Manila Standard - 2019 February 19 - Tuesday

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PREENING FOR 2022? SARA WARY OF ‘HATE LIST ‘

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Monday asked her supporters to stop labeling her as the country’s “next president,” as this has made her a target for others who want to be president. “I wish they would not talk about me like that because those who are eyeing the presidency as early as now, they would make me number 1 on their hate list,” she said in Filipino to ABS-CBN News. “What I’m just doing is to help the President Next page

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 9 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sara Duterte-Carpio

EVICTION AND REHABILITATION.

Public Works and Highways workers assemble Monday the Amphibious Excavator to be used for the rehabilitation of the natural harbor Manila Bay, strategically located around the capital, while residents of Baseco in Manila’s waterfront district of Tondo who are facing eviction (below) due to the impending reclamation plan hold a protest rally in front of City Hall. They aargue the Manila Bay rehab is just a front for private businesses to build their hotels and casinos under the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program. Norman Cruz

Duterte vetoes P100-b coco bill Task force probes Yulo murder, focuses on business rivalry angle POLICE have formed a special task group to investigate the murder of a businessman and his driver, who were shot dead by two motorcycle-riding gunmen while they were on board a van on EDSA in Mandaluyong City Sunday afternoon. Metro Manila police chief Guillermo Eleazar said the businessman, Jose Luis Yulo, 62, died from eight gunshot wounds. Also killed was Yulo’s driver, Allan Momer Santos, 55. The woman in the van, 38-year-old stock broker Esmeralda Ignacio, was wounded and taken to VRP Medical Center. Eleazar said Yulo was a namesake of Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands president Jose Luis U. Yulo Jr. The victims were on board a Toyota Hi Ace Grandia and had just come from a drag racing event at the Clark International Next page

THE Commission on Elections said Monday it was helpless in checking the candidates spending for expensive TV and print advertisements that were clearly beyond their means. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said there were rules on how much candidates could spend on their campaigns and where they should receive their funding from, but that rules and regulations about

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has vetoed a second bill regarding the coconut industry, again citing the lack of “vital safeguards.”

In a letter to Congress, the President expressed “serious concerns” about a bill that establishes a P100- billion trust fund for coconut farmers, saying that its provisions fail to target the full utilization of the coco levy fund for its beneficiaries. “After much deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that the bill may be violative of the Constitution and is lacking

in vital safeguards to avoid the repetition of painful mistakes committed in the past,” Duterte said. The President said the creation of an “effectively perpetual” trust fund would violate a constitutional provision that money collected on any tax levied for a special purpose “shall be treated as a special fund and paid out for such purpose only.”

Palace, DBM downplay Andaya claim on payables to contractors

Jose ‘Sel’ Yulo

Comelec can’t stop poll big spenders By Vito Barcelo

Cites lack of vital safeguards, constitutional proviso

election campaigning, including the rule on spending limits, were outdated and must be updated. “Unfortunately, we are helpless because the Comelec cannot look into the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of candidates. It is not our job to check if they live within their means,” Jimenez said in a television interview. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways on Monday Next page

By Nat Mariano THE Palace on Monday shrugged off the claim of House appropriations committee chairman Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. that the government failed to pay several contractors more than P100 billion last year due to a “corrupt system” within the Department of Budget and Management. On Friday, Andaya said the government still owes P100 billion to private contractors who did work for the Department of Public Works and Highways. He said this failure would discourage potential contractors from participating in the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure program. “This gargantuan amount of payables has reincarnated an old system that forces [public works] contractors to cough up kickbacks just to be paid for completed infrastructure projects,” Andaya said in a statement. Next page

Another cocaine package surfaces

NOT LUCKY SEVEN. Fire destroys Monday Auto Plus, a repair shop in Barangay Wack Wack in Mandaluyong City, wrecking seven cars including a sports utility vehicle of reelectionist Senator JV Ejercito. No preliminary damage estimate has been mentioned by the Bureau of Fire Protection from Mandaluyong. (Story on A6) Manny Palmero

ANOTHER brick of cocaine wrapped in a package, estimated to be worth P5.2 million, was found on Saturday afternoon by a passerby walking along the shoreline of Bagumbayan village in Paracale town in Camarines Norte, police said. Chief Inspector Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Philippine National Police Bicol spokesman, said a resident, Norly Soriano, 46, noticed the brick-like item wrapped in a brown duct tape containing a white substance. The package was turned over to the Provincial Crime Laboratory Office for examination, and the lab test found it was cocaine weighing 989.23 grams. Next page

Enforcers to join Catriona’s parade MORE than 200 Metro Manila Development Authority traffic enforcers will be deployed along the route of the homecoming parade of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray on February 21. Next page

“If the purpose for which the special fund was created has been fulfilled or abandoned, the balance, if any shall be transferred to the general fund of the government,” the constitutional provision says. The President also said that the absence of limits against a land area entitled to the benefits of the trust fund may “disproportionately benefit wealthy coconut farm owners more than the smallholder farmers who desperately need the government’s affirmative assistance.” “The broad powers given to the Philippine Coconut Authority,” which would have managed the supposed multi-billionpeso funds, “would undermine relevant Next page

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Rewrite tax amnesty bill—Rody By Nat Mariano

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has urged Congress to craft another general tax amnesty bill with provisions that will “break down the walls” of bank secrecy, include an automatic exchange of information and provide safeguards to ensure “truthful” tax administration in the country. While he understood the legislature’s objective in proposing an unconditional latitude in the grant of an amnesty, Duterte said, he thumbed down the measure because “the original objective will not be met under the proposed framework.” In his letter to the members and leaders of Congress released by the Palace

on Monday, Duterte said he vetoed a portion of Republic Act 11213, or the Tax Amnesty Act, because its “overgenerous and unregulated” implementation would harbor acts of tax evasion in the future. “Without the provisions breaking down the walls of bank secrecy, setting the legal framework for us to comply with international standards on exchange of information for tax purposes, and safeguarding against those who abuse the amnesty by declaring an untruthful asset of net worth, a general amnesty that is overgenerous and unregulated would create an environment ripe for future tax evasion, the very thing we wish to address,” Duterte said. “Without these measures, the government and ultimately the Filipino people will incur long-term substantial revenue losses.” Duterte said the Philippines’ experience with the 2006 tax amnesty under Republic Act 9480 had shown that without enough safeguards and measures against tax

UNHCR weighs in on Ressa’s arrest THE Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concern over the arrest of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa following cyber libel charges against her, urging the country’s Justice department to veer away from political pressures in handling media cases. For Rupert Colville, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesman, Ressa’s arrest, which caught international attention, had become the “latest element in pattern of intimidation of a media outlet that has fiercely guarded its independence and its right to conduct indepth investigations and to criticize the authorities.” “Maria Ressa, who has frequently been critical of President [Rodrigo] Duterte and his administration’s policies, has previously faced charges of tax evasion as well as attempts to revoke Rappler’s license to operate. These have been widely viewed as efforts to silence Rappler’s independent investigative reporting and critical voice, by misusing judicial and administrative powers, including libel laws,” Colville said. “Rappler journalists have also allegedly been threatened with physical harm,” he added, emphasizing that the international organization remained “very concerned” about the state of Ressa. In related developments: • Malacañang said Ressa was a “walking testament” that press freedom remained vibrant in the country, reacting to criticism her arrest was meant to stifle opposition. Ressa said her legal plight showed “how far the government will go to try to silence a voice.” President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Panelo, however, said Ressa was “the walking testament that freedom of the press, as well as of expression, are very alive in this country.” “Until now, she’s still using that freedom to assault the government and this administration,” he told ANC, which was beamed nationwide. The Philippines, he added, “is the freest country with respect to expression of oneself and publication of newspapers,” considering that the administration itself had not filed a complaint against any journalist. • Senator Francis Pangilonan said he was baffled when the government suddenly became interested in clearing its name before the international community on the arrest of Ressa. He noted that before, the Philippine government was just ignoring criticisms on extrajudicial killings as a result of the drug war. “Aren’t the President’s defenders enough to parry the views on the apparently harassment incident?” he asked. “Could it be that Secretary Martin Andanar and the PCOO people just want a whiff of winter, thus, the sudden urge to go into this information caravan?” also questioned Pangilinan as he pressed on the PCOO spending for this trip which involved the taxpayers’ money. “Isn’t it more worthwhile and beneficial to spend it in helping the DOH in its information drive to get as many children vaccinated to help curb the measles outbreak?” On Wednesday authorities from the National Bureau of Investigation stormed in Ressa’s office, serving the arrest warrant in regard to the cyber libel case filed by businessman William Keng in May 2012. Ressa then wasted no time in pursuing legal remedies on the eve of her arrest, but a Pasay City Court refused to process her temporary release over jurisdiction issue.

Ressa spent the night with the authorities. She was freed the next day. The case stemmed from a story about Keng first published in May 2012 or four months before the Cybercrime Act of 2012 was enacted. After investigating Keng’s complaint, the NBI’s legal and evaluation service junked the case against Ressa. Rappler reported that the NBI legal team “found that the one-year prescriptive period for libel had lapsed with the complaint filed five years after the publication of the story.” However, the NBI revived the complaint on March 2, 2018, recommending the indictment of Rappler on cyber libel charges even if the Cybercrime Law was signed into law in September 2012. With the seeming “flip-flop” of NBI, Colville then called on the Philippine government to conduct an “independent and thorough review of all charges” against Ressa and other media professionals. The UN official also urged the Department of Justice to dismiss cases that are “clearly politically motivated or are not in line with international human rights standards, including freedom of opinion and expression.” “Any charges that appear to be aimed at preventing journalists from undertaking their profession, thereby depriving the public of their right to information, should be dropped immediately,” Colville continued. “Attempts to intimidate or muzzle independent news sources has a serious effect on freedom of opinion and expression in general, and the rights of journalists to carry out their professional duties safely and without fear of reprisal are clear under international law,” he added. Moreover, Colville said that UN Special Rapporteurs David Kaye, Anges Callamard, and Michel also expressed their indignation, describing Ressa’s arrest as a “very serious escalation” of media harassment. “The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights fully endorses the positions they have taken,” he said. Meanwhile, the Palace on Monday also called on those who rallied on Ressa’s “unworthy cause” not to just take one side of the story. “What those who invoke the freedom of the expression and (freedom) of the press forgot is that even an ordinary citizen has the right to demand his rights against journalists or columnists if his/ her rights have been violated,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing. “They have their own rights too. The Supreme Court has always said that the freedom of the press is not absolute. If you violated the rights of another person, then you will be held accountable.” For Panelo, Ressa only wanted to have a “special treatment” from the country’s judicial processes. “That will not be possible. All of us are equal. Fair should be fair.” In a separate interview, Panelo even stated that the Philippines remains “the freest country with respect to expression of oneself and publication of newspaper.” “In fact, I would even say that she [Ressa] is a walking testament that the a freedom of expression and freedom of the press are very alive in this country. Why did I say that? Because until now, she is still using that freedom to assault the government and this administration,” Panelo told ANC, maintaining that the “high profile” journalist should not blame the government for the “inexperience” of her lawyers. Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Enforcers... From A1

Buendia Ayala Avenue The MMDA will enforce a stop-and-go scheme at the route to accommodate the convoy of vehicles carrying the beauty queen. There would be clearing operations of illegally parked vehicles and obstructions along the route ahead of the parade. Gray is also scheduled to have another parade on Feb. 23 at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City which will traverse from Novotel Hotel to the Smart Araneta Coliseum. She is also expected to visit various charity institutions such as the Young Focus, LoveYourself PH, and Smile Train during her homecoming. PNA

In its advisory on Monday, the MMDA said Gray’s homecoming parade would start at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila at 2 p.m. and would traverse through the streets of Pasay, Manila and Makati cities. The route of the parade will be at the following areas: JW Diokno Boulevard Atang Dela Rama Vicente Sotto Street Roxas Boulevard TM Kalaw Taft Avenue

evasion, “the objectives of an amnesty such as raising revenues and expanding the tax base cannot be fully achieved.” Duterte said the general amnesty program was meant to give taxpayers a “fresh start” and signal the start of a fair enforcement campaign by the tax authorities. “It is not meant to be abused for the gain of the few and the loss of the rest of the citizenry. These safeguards against tax evasion are estimated to contribute P76.6 billion to the public funds in the next five years, which we hope to use to better our infrastructure and services,” Duterte said. “Given these, I ask Congress to pass another general tax bill that includes the lifting of bank secrecy for fraud cases, the inclusion of automatic exchange of information, and safeguards to ensure that asset or net worth declarations are truthful.” Duterte expressed hope that with his recommendations, the general

Duterte... From A1

regulations and safeguards that were established to avoid abuses,” Duterte added. Last week, the President vetoed a bill creating a reconstituted 15-member PCA board, which includes seven members from the private sector. Duterte argued that the proposed legislation lacked necessary safeguards. The Palace said the bill would be susceptible to corruption. The President said he still hoped that members of Congress would “continue to work together” to come up with a new bill that is “acceptable to all.” Also on Monday, Senator Cynthia Villar said if she is reelected, she would

Preening... From A1

get through the remaining three years of his administration.” Last week, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said he wouldn’t be surprised if Duterte-Carpio became the next president, saying she had many “admirers” that made it easy forher to gather funds for support. Meanwhile, senatorial frontrunner Senator Grace Poe said she would not seek the presidency again in 2022. Poe, who lost to then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 presidential race, said she could still contribute to the country by running for re-election to her Senate seat

Palace, DBM... From A1

He said “concerned employees” from the DPWH and DBM told him that the total amount of still unpaid contracts for public works projects in 2018 increased from P44 billion in November to more than P100 billion at the end of the year. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, however, said Andaya was “unclear” with his claim and said there was no logic in congressman’s allegation. “Why would the government owe the contractors because of corruption? It seems there are no connection,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing. “There would be corruption if the contractors are being bribed. But the government owing them money, I don’t know how, there’s no connection. If they were not paid enough, then maybe the projects were incomplete, that might be the reason there,” he added. Asked if the Palace will look into Andaya’s allegations, Panelo said that the contractors involved should file their complaints. “Congressman Andaya cannot be lawyering for these contractors. If the contractors have something to complain [about], they should, themselves,

Comelec... From A1

reminded all public works field personnel to avoid taking part in any partisan political activities, after it received complaints that some of its workers were installing the campaign posters of some senatorial bets. But Public Works Undersecretary Eugenio Pipo denied the report, saying the field workers were not installing campaign materials but removing the political materials for violating campaign rules. Jimenez said the Comelec could not include the expenses of a candidate made before the start of the campaign period, adding the Comelec only starts monitoring TV and radio airtime limits during the campaign period. “Also, we do not expect that candidates will spend that much. They have donors and sponsors who pay for their campaign,” he said. The Comelec made the reaction after

tax amnesty would meet both its tax administration and revenue purposes. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said it was Duterte’s desire to lift the bank secrecy for fraud for transparency. “He recommended that because you can’t really know the truth if it’s confidential. But if you lift it, your bank deposits can be checked easily, so you cannot lie about it. That’s the reason why,” Panelo told reporters. “We are confident that the members of Congress will fulfill their duty to the Filipino people as mandated by the Constitution, which is, they should be honest in all dealings and they should pursue a policy of accountability and transparency in the realm of governance.” On Thursday, Duterte signed the Tax Amnesty Act, but line-item vetoed its general amnesty provision except for the portions covering the estate tax amnesty and the amnesty on delinquency taxes.

give priority to enacting a law that would finally allow 3.5 million coconut farmers and their beneficiaries to directly benefit from the P100-billion coconut levy fund. In a recent visit to Laguna, a coconut-producing province, Villar said she is saddened that President Duterte vetoed Senate Bill 1233 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Act, but said she trusts the President’s action and expressed willingness to work with him to improve the bill. “We want to take care of coconut farmers, who, together with rice farmers, make up 90 percent of the farmers in the Philippines,” she said. “If we can improve the lives of coconut farmers and rice farmers, we have already improved the lives of majority of our farmers.” rather than taking another shot at the presidency. “That’s already in the past, and I was already given a chance. There are other potential candidates for the public to consider,” Poe said in Filipino in an interview at the Obrero Public Market on Blumentritt Road, Manila. “Even in the Senate, we could still do something for the country,” she said. Poe brought her campaign at the public market to hear the concerns of vendors, as she called for local governments to aid small-time market vendors amid attempts for modernization. Poe, an independent candidate, said rent should be affordable even when markets are privatized. Macon Ramos-Araneta file the complaint and address their concerns to the respective department or to Department of Public Works,” he said. “If they were not even complaining in the first place, then why would… How can you be more popish than the Pope?” The DBM issued a statement on Andaya’s claim, saying that the Budget department was “not aware as to how the P100 billion in (accounts payable) have been arrived at since books of accounts have not yet been closed.” “Notices of Cash Allocation, or NCAs, are issued based on the submitted list of due and demandable accounts payable (APs) of the DPWH. For this year, we have already released a total of P64 billion for APs of the DPWH,” said the statement prepared by Undersecretary Tina Rose Marie Canda. “Under a reenacted budget, 25 percent of funds for personnel services, maintenance and other operating expenses, and capital outlays may be obligated. Amounts corresponding to salaries for their casual employees is included in this authority. It is now up to the DPWH to resolve this matter.” The DPWH has yet to issue a statement.

the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism released a report about senatorial candidates’ spending on political advertisements. The PCIJ claims that the top spenders have exceeded the net worth that was declared in their SALNs. Jimenez said the PCIJ report on the spending was “before the campaign period.” “It is very clear that you can only prohibit at the start of the campaign period. Unless the campaign period starts, everyone gets to do whatever they want,” Jimenez said. “We can monitor from the start of the campaign period until the campaign period ends. This is considered premature campaign spending and that is the problem with our electoral system. “We appeal to the candidates themselves: Right now, it’s a question of delicadeza. For Filipino voters, think hard on whom to vote in the May midterm elections,” Jimenez said.

Marcos sounds alarm over copra price nosedive By Rey E. Requejo ILOCOS Norte Gov. Imee Marcos said Monday coconut farmers could fall deeper into poverty because of the low prices of copra. “Copra prices are so low that our farmers are no longer able to live decently,” Marcos said. She urged the government to release the P180-billion coconut levy fund to help resuscitate the coconut industry and help the coconut farmers recover. “Our farmers have been waiting for so long to avail of the benefits due them through the coco levy fund. They should not be made to wait any further,” said Marcos, who is running for senator in the midterm elections in May. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed the bill that was supposed to strengthen the Philippine Coconut Authority and address the problems besetting the coconut industry. Malacañang says the measure lacks vital safeguards and does not fully use the coconut levy assets for the benefit of marginalized farmers. “Instead of increasing the representatives on the PCA board, the Senate should have provided for the payment of loans which is allegedly the reason for the veto,” Marcos said. “The immediate release of the coco levy funds was promised by the President during his first 100 days in office.” Data from the PCA show that the average farm-gate price of copra has declined by almost 60 percent, or from P38.70 per kilo in 2017 to P15.52 per kilo last year. The coconut industry is also suffering from slow replanting programs; the scale insect infestation that has hit the Bicol region, Basilan, Zamboanga peninsula and Romblon, and the government’s failure to adjust to the needs of the domestic market, which has been losing to Thailand in coconut water production. As for rice tariffication, Marcos issued an urgent appeal that the farmers’ concerns against unbridled importation be addressed by the government. “The shortfall in local produce is at a mere 1.5 million metric tons against the 12 million consumed annually,” Marcos said. “Imported rice should be limited and timed not to enter the local market during our harvest season because this will push local prices to unbearable levels for our farmers.”

Task force... From A1

Speedway in Angeles City when they were attacked at about 3:23 p.m. PNP spokesman Sr. Supt, Bernard Banac said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, was looking for CCTV footage near the crime scene to identify what motorcycle they used and determine their getaway route. Mandaluyong City Police Chief Sr. Supt. Moises Villaceran told CNN Philippines that Yulo was the clear target of the assassins. “He has a lot of businesses in Metro Manila and Laguna. We are now looking [into whether this was] related to his business,” he said. Villaceran said they would deploy more personnel along the eastern portion of EDSA to increase police visibility and to deter crime. Francisco Tuyay

Another cocaine... From A1

Meanwhile, the PNP on Monday said it will tap fishermen as conduits in the government’s anti-drug campaign, particularly in monitoring cocaine being dumped at sea. PNP spokesman Bernard Banac said the collaboration of fishermen and residents in the coastal villages across the country would be a vital component in stopping the entry and proliferation of illegal drugs in the country through transshipment operations. Calubaquib said the latest cocaine package recovered brings to three the packages found in the waters off Camarines Norte in a week. cocaine packages were The discovered in the area on Feb. 10 and 11. Calubaquib said the packages that were recovered had a cumulative total weight of 2.8 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of P15.1 million. The first cocaine brick weighing one kilogram, worth P5.4 million, was fished out on Feb. 10 by a fisherman in the waters of Barangay Sula, Vinzons town, while the second package weighing 839 grams, worth P4.5 million, was found on the shore of Barangay Sabang, Vinzons, on Feb. 11. Anti-narcotics authorities are still investigating the possible sources of the cocaine, which they said could have been from a cargo ship that might have sunk last year due to the storms off the waters of Samar province. PNA with Francisco Tuyay

News

MIAA starts renovating Terminal 2 at NAIA By Joel E. Zurbano THE Manila International Airport Authority has started renovating Terminal 2 of the country’s main gateway, airport general manager Eddie Monreal announced on Monday. “It is now in full swing despite the challenges, we shall proceed as planned. I say challenge because we are business as usual despite ongoing works. We hope to deliver on our promise to finish everything by March next year,” the MIAA chief said. The project involves the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal’s architectural face lifting with the replacement of damaged floor finishes, restoration and chemical cleaning of stained floor finishes in the arrival and departure passenger movement areas. Monreal said damaged ceilings of NAIA Terminal 2 will be replaced while 32 sets of skylight roofing will be repaired. He added seismic and expansion joints at general areas, baggage claim area and elevated roadway are to be replaced as well. “Walls, columns, beams and soffit finishes at the arrival and departure passenger movement areas, aerobridge areas and elevated roadway will be upgraded,” he said. Replacement of glass doors at the predeparture gates and fixed bridge gates, cleaning and polishing of metal frames, metal louvers and claddings will be undertaken. Monreal said marked improvement will soon greet passengers with the expansion of the departure check-in hall and the arrival baggage area. “The work would include construction of a drop wall, installation of structural framing, installation of new glass wall panels and partitions, glass doors and metal ceiling panels,” he said. To complement the expansion of these two areas, there will be installation of additional air-conditioning system, power, lightings, fire protection, electronics and communications systems. The construction of a power room is necessary to host additional power supply requirements for these additional installations. “The exterior of the buidling will have its share of fixing as exterior ledges, walls, beams, soffit, pathways and pocket gardens undergo waterproofing works,” added Monreal.

Survey: Majority of Filipinos back return of ROTC By Macon Ramos-Araneta A PULSE Asia survey shows majority of Filipinos support the return of the Reserve Officers’ Training Course (ROTC) in the country, Senator Win Gatchalian revealed Monday. The Pulse Asia’s latest Ulat ng Bayan Survey conducted on Dec. 14-21 last year, showed 1,440 of 1,800 respondents or 80 percent agree to the implementation of the ROTC either in senior high school, in college, or in both. Meanwhile, 270 respondents or 15 percent do not want the program implemented, while the rest have no opinion on the issue, Gatchalian said. The same survey showed that 34 percent want ROTC implemented in both senior high school and college, 28 percent want the program to be implemented only in college, while 18 percent want ROTC only in senior high school, according to the lawmaker. The respondents were asked, “There are proposals to implement ROTC to (sic) all students in Senior High School or Grades 11 to 12 and in college. “The ROTC or Reserved Officers’ Training Corps is a program which aims to teach the youth about discipline and love of country by military training. Which of the following do you favor more regarding this issue?” Gatchalian said he would be holding a public hearing on Feb. 20 to consult stakeholders on their position on the issue. Among the guests invited to the hearing are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Benjamin Madrigal and other AFP officials, Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Commission on Higher Education chairman Prospero de Vera, and University of the Philippines Vanguard Executive Director Robert Coscolluela. Representatives from various groups opposing the return of ROTC will also be invited. Gatchalian was previously designated by the Senate Committee on Education, Arts, and Culture as chairperson of the Senate Subcommittee on ROTC, which is tasked to study the possible re-institutionalization of the program.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gaming operators must register By Nat Mariano

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HE Bureau of Internal Revenue’s move to trace the number of Chinese nationals working in online gaming business in the country is a “good measure,” the Palace said on Monday, after the BIR required foreign- and local-based offshore gaming operators (POGOs) to register with the tax agency. “That’s a good measure to determine exactly how many Chinese nationals are here in violation of our laws. From my point of view, the move of BIR is a good thing,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a Palace press briefing. “I think they really want to determine the number of [Chinese] nationals because that’s connected to the

declaration of income for us to collect the right amount of corporate tax,” he added. In a statement on Sunday, the BIR said the registration of POGOs would now be required for the renewal of their license to operate from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. “We want to trace these Chinese

nationals employed by these gaming operators. They allowed us to join the task force because we are asking data from Immigration and DOLE on the list of these foreign nationals,” BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa said in the statement. According to Guballa, the implementation of the Revenue Memorandum Circular 78-2018 gave the tax agency “more teeth” over online gaming operations in the country. It also effectively reinforced RMC 102-2017. Under RMC-No 102-2017, the online activity is sufficient to constitute doing business in the Philippines. Thus, a foreign corporation engaged in POGO is considered as Resident Foreign Corporation engaged in business in the Philippines and not a Nonresident Foreign Corporation. With this, the BIR said it already

tapped the Department of Labor and Employment, the Bureau of Immigration, and the Department of Finance to observe the influx of Chinese nationals working in the online gaming scene. Last month, the Palace allayed concerns the apparent surge of Chinese workers in the country would diminish job opportunities for Filipinos. Even after he admitted it as a “reality,” Panelo argued that the efflux of Chinese nationals in the country was because of the supposed shortage in Filipino manpower in the construction industry. But he stressed that those who would enter the country through lawful means must be a cause of alarm. Last November, President Rodrigo Duterte told government officials to be cautious in deporting Chinese nationals who illegally worked in the country.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019

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Open hegemonism in Venezuela Part II IT IS clear that Venezuela is not a threat to the US security or that the European powers are about to regain their colonial foothold in Latin America. Rather, the US is plainly driven to keep that country under its thumb to be exploited to the hilt of its oil-rich resources.

The US is plainly driven to keep that country under its thumb.

The event in Venezuela is unmasking the true nature of the Monroe Doctrine—that it is being used as instrument to secure South America as its exclusive enclave to be subjugated by raising the bogey to sanitize the continent from the spread of communism, a crusade which ended the Cold War in 1989. The greed for Venezuela’s oil has never before made the US so unpopular. In its bid “to be great again,” it openly exerts its hegemonistic Monroe Doctrine to covet other countries’ wealth in the guise of protecting their freedom of democracy. The dire economic situation in Venezuela is the result of the illegal embargo. This has greatly affected exports, investments, and access to foreign capital. There is massive unemployment, hyperinflation, dire lack of food and medicines caused by the economic blockade. People migrate to nearby countries not for freedom in search of employment. As they suffer, the US trumpets a different story that allegedly, Venezuela suffers because of economic mismanagement and corruption

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

by the Maduro government. It denies that the US policy stems from its own tyrannical judgment that allegedly Venezuela failed to live up to its standard of a free election. The US is principally fanning the flames of social unrest to make its premeditated armed intervention conducive and palatable to the world media. The US and its Western allies led by Britain has even resorted to the most brazen act of what we might say as a “state-sponsored robbery” by rejecting Venezuela’s request to withdraw $1.2 billion in gold in the usual guise that they now recognize as president, Juan Guaido. For two weeks, Caracas has been trying to withdraw the gold, with Calixto Ortega, the head of Venezuela’s central bank, seeking access to the nation’s assets. To deprive Venezuela of its gold deposit is to unjustly punish the people of what rightfully belongs to them at this moment when their economy is struggling to stave off economic strangulation by the warmongering Trump administration. There is no way the people of Venezuela will understand why they are being compelled to hoot for democracy and freedom in exchange for the thirst of the big US oil companies. It is even far more difficult for the world to understand why Juan Guiado, the man who now styles himself as interim president to replace Nicolas Maduro, boycotted the election. For the US and their they lackey to question Maduro’s second term election is completely devoid of any legal and moral basis. Guiado was not a loser in that election to claim he was cheated. The opposition in their unauthorized referendum in July 2017 claim that about 7 million of the people rejected Maduro’s proposal to convene the constituent assembly. But their socalled referendum was authorized even by the opposition-controlled National Assembly. Of course, their move was to prevent Maduro from convening the constituent assembly which was upheld by the country’s Supreme Court. The opposition continues to rant that the election of Maduro was rigged, yet could not formally file a case of electoral fraud precisely because they refused to participate or field a candidate for them to have a legal basis to allege that they were cheated by Maduro, and on that basis give clout to install Guiado. In fact, Turn to A5

Death trap

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UDGET Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who once famously told consumers suffering from high prices to be “less of a crybaby,” has now weighed in on agricultural policy, suggesting that farmers stop planting rice and shift to more high-value crops. Observing that agriculture contributed less than 1 percent to the growth in gross domestic product in 2018, the Budget chief said the economic picture would improve if farmers shifted to high-value crops and the country relied on cheaper rice imports. “A growth of maybe 3-4 percent is possible for the sector if we focus on high-value crops and just import rice,” Diokno said last week. “That is the most efficient economic arrangement. And as I said, you always have to think of what’s the greatest good for the farmers.” In his rush to burnish his economic numbers, however, the secretary fails to mention how critical rice is in the Filipino diet, and how foolish it would be to rely on the kindness of strangers for the longterm supply of this staple. It may indeed be cheaper today to import rice but the largest exporters of rice in the region today—India, Thailand, Vietnam and China—are also among the biggest consumers of the grain. It would be reasonable to assume that in a lean

crop year, they would cut back on exports to feed their own people or raise the price of their commodity, two possibilities that would spell trouble for a rice-consuming nation that didn't have its own production and merely depended on imports. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol sums up this argument well. “It is as certain as the sun will rise tomorrow that 10 years from now, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Pakistan and India will no longer be able to export the same volume of rice that they ship out today. They have to feed their growing population as well,” he said. “The policy to just rely on imported rice and ask our rice farmers to diversify to other crops is a death trap. It is a shortsighted view which will kill the rice industry and drive away farmers from the rice fields.” President Rodrigo Duterte's 10-point economic agenda calls for, among other things, increasing agricultural and rural enterprise productivity.

Instead of writing off rice farmers as being uncompetitive or asking them to shift to more lucrative crops, the government should be finding ways to make them more competitive, by making sure they have adequate financing, protection from natural disasters, access to a distribution system that does not take unfair advantage of them, and new technology that can boost productivity and protect their crops. Data from the Southeast Asian Regional Center and the International Rice Research Institute show that in 2010, among five large Asian rice-producing nations, the Philippines devoted only 4.53 million hectares (ha) to rice production, a far cry from 44 million ha in India, 29.49 million ha in China, 12.31 million ha in Indonesia, 10.25 million ha in Thailand and 7.41 million ha in Vietnam. Yet the Philippines fed the most number of persons per hectare or rice area harvested. President Duterte has already pinpointed the problem: arable lands have been taken by the rich to grow cash crops—much as his Budget secretary is urging the remaining rice farmers to do. The President knows, too, that food security requires us to aim for self-sufficiency, regardless of the short-term gains that importing rice might bring.

Killing the rule of law IT IS ironic that the rule of law in this country diminished the most during the tenures of two lawyer presidents—Ferdinand Marcos and Rodrigo Duterte. In the case of Duterte, he has only just begun. Marcos did it in one stroke when he illegally detained many opposition figures at the beginning of martial law. Duterte has been more subtle, killing the rule of law one person and institution at a time, the latest of which is Maria Ressa, embattled leader of Rappler. But before Maria, there was Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. And before the latter, there was Leila de Lima. And of course, worst of all, there are the tens of thousands mostly poor people killed in the illegal war against illegal drugs. Going back to De Lima, her freedom was certainly one of the first targets of Duterte and exemplifies the slow demise of the rule of law in the Philippines. This was two years ago. The legal opinion by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted on August 2018 concerning the case of De Lima illustrates this very well. The Working Group was created by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. As a party to International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Philippine Government received a communication from the Working Group on this case but the former chose not to reply. At the outset, the Opinion enumerates the instances regarded by the Working Group as arbitrary deprivation of liberty, thus: (a) When it is clearly impossible to invoke any legal basis justifying the deprivation of liberty (category I); (b) When the deprivation of liberty results from the exercise of the rights or freedoms guaranteed by articles 7, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20 and 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, insofar as States parties are concerned, by articles 12, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26 and 27 of the Covenant (category II); c) When the total or partial nonobservance of the international norms relating to the right to a fair trial, established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the relevant international instruments accepted by the States concerned, is of such gravitas to give the deprivation of liberty an arbitrary character (category III) (d) When asylum seekers, immigrants or refugees are subjected to prolonged administrative custody without the possibility of administrative or judicial review or remedy (category IV); (e) When the deprivation of liberty constitutes a violation of international law on the

grounds of discrimination based on birth, national, ethnic or social origin, language, religion, economic condition, political or other opinion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status, that aims towards or can result in ignoring the equality of human beings (category V). The Opinion then sets forth the factual background of Senator Leila de Lima’s case which I shall substantially reproduce below. Thus: from July 2010 to October 2015, the report pointed that Senator De Lima served as Secretary of Justice. During her term, Sec. De Lima’s actions led to the incarceration of a former President and three senators, as well as the filing of criminal cases against several congressmen, all for plunder and corruption. She also led the raid of the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, which is also known as the New Bilibid Prison to confiscate contraband items, isolate 19 identified drug lords and gang leaders, also known as the “Bilibid

The Opinion then continued to narrate how the state twisted the law in depriving Leila de Lima of procedural and substantial due process.

drug lords” or“Bilibid 19,” and paralyze the drug network that existed in the prison facility; that several of the Bilibid drug lords filed cases with the Ombudsman and the Court of Appeals against Ms. De Lima. Reportedly, their lawyer is one of Ms. De Lima’s detractors. In addition, the lawyer is also the counsel of the former President who was in detention, as mentioned above, and who expressed a desire to see Ms. De Lima in jail. The lawyer allegedly has talked to his clients and their networks, and prepared potential willing witnesses to testify against Ms. De Lima in exchange for their preferential treatment under the new administration, including possible executive clemency. Allegedly, some other inmates also agreed to provide “coached testimonies” against Ms. De Lima in exchange for prison amenities and privileges. As an elected senator, De Lima filed a resolution calling for an investigation into Turn to A5

First Filipino-built train FAST and furious it won’t be in all likelihood when it hits the tracks this first quarter, but at the minimum, it will be able to bring you from Point A to Point B with minimum hassle. That’s the good news for harassed daily commuters already fed up with horrible Metro Manila traffic. We’re referring to the Hybrid Electric Train or HET, the first Filipino-built train developed by the Department of Science

It is safe and reliable and even comparable to imported ones.

air-condiand Technology. The trains will be air-condi tioned, with space for 880 passengers. They will run on technology behind Toyota’s Prius hybrid cars. The Hybrid Electric Train took five years

to be developed by DOST engineers, then had to undergo rigorous testing before they Railcan be deployed on Philippine National Rail Maway (PNR) tracks stretching from Metro Ma nila to Calamba, Laguna. The DOST claims that the trains are safe and reliable and even comparable to imported ones. At present, there are only to six to seven of the PNR’s 11 train sets working on any given day, with five others undergoing maintenance. Ideally, the PNR should have 15 trains. We’re told that the PNR has ordered seven new train sets from Indonesia but these will not arrive until the middle of this year. The DOST-built trains could be in service by March. They cost P120 million to develop, compared to the $47.4 million or P2.37 Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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Opinion Screaming diva I WAS more than a little elated when the office of Senator Ping Lacson responded to my column last week with an op-ed piece that came out the very next day. Columnists are craven attention-getters, even if the attention is disagreeable. My elation was dampened somewhat, however, when the senator’s office also replied to a column by the redoubtable Kit Tatad in the Manila Times, who apparently agreed with my views on the same issue (Lacson’s “institutional amendments,” otherwise not known as pork). Lacson’s people darkly speculated that Kit and I had engaged in “copy-paste” journalism from the same “common source”, and within just a day of each other. I’m tempted to offer an alternative explanation for this coincidence: Great minds think alike. But since the senator’s office appears to be a humorless lot, I will simply advise them not to be surprised if columnists who want to be topical end up writing about the same hotbutton issue at pretty much the same time. *** What can I say about the comments from Lacson’s people on my latest column? One: They claim that Lacson’s “amendments” to the national budget are wellthought-out responses to funding requests from the implementing agencies. By comparison, the “insertions” by congressmen are nothing but personal interventions by the lawmakers, done without consultation, and tantamount to the “whimsical and arbitrary” projects proscribed in the Supreme Court ruling in 2013 against pork barrel. Reply: These are fighting words from Lacson indeed, which it really is up to the congressmen to answer back. They’re big enough to carry their own water—perhaps starting with a challenge to the senator to name specific unworthy projects “inserted” by the House, the congressmen involved, and why he thinks they’re unworthy. Everyone loves a good catfight. Two: Continuing silence from Lacson’s

Open... From A4

Guiado’s election as head of the National Assembly was a last-minute afterthought to illegally install him as interim president. Venezuela has an elected Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, who under any constitutional form of government should be the one to succeed Maduro. The US never considered him because he was an unwilling lackey. They simply focused their issue on dictatorship to make palatable their replacement of Maduro. In that, one could see that the political turmoil in Venezuela is following an old pattern similar to the political swindle committed by the US and the oligarchy under the guise of “people power” to allegedly restore democracy and freedom. The US’ distaste for the Maduro government has nothing to do with ideology. It is their fear of encroachment to what it considered as its exclusive turf. US national security advisor, John Bolton, in an interview said, “It will make a big difference to the United States economically if we could have American oil companies invest in and produce the oil capabilities in Venezuela.”

Killing... From A4

extrajudicial killings during the President’s war on drugs. In addition, on 11 August 2016, the President told reporters in Davao City that he would destroy her in public and began daily accusations and sexist insults. The President released a so-called drug matrix, purportedly showing that Ms. De Lima was at the heart of the drug trade operations inside the New Bilibid Prison. In December 2016, three criminal complaints for illegal drug trading were filed against Senator De Lima with the Department of Justice. The evidence presented be-

First... From A4 billion cost of the Indonesian-made locomotives. The hybrid electric train was conceived in 2012, at a time when the DOST was helping PNR retrofit its fleet of locomotives. The DOST engineers decided to develop a new train instead of retrofitting the old trains. In 2013, the engineering team came up with a design for a hybrid electrical train featuring a diesel-powered generator, an electric motor, a bank of electrical batteries, and regenerative braking technology. Similar to Toyota’s Prius, the Filipino-built train taps kinetic energy normally lost when the train slows down or stops, and converts it to electricity which is then stored in 260 lead-acid batteries. The stored energy can then be tapped to propel the HET as well as power its automatic doors, air-conditioning and onboard CCTV security system. This is considered more energy-efficient and environment-friendly. After coming up with the design, the DOST tapped a local firm, Fil-Asia Automotive and Industries Corp, a manufacturer of bus bodies and special trucks, to fabricate the train coaches. The engine, motor, and bogie—the train’s chassis, axle and wheels— were, however, sourced from abroad. Mass

office on the truthfulness of his claim about a thousand percent increase in Arroyo’s “pork,” to a humongous P606 million worth of projects in 2019. Congressman Nonoy Andaya, a former budget secretary, has already flat-out denied those numbers exist. So is Lacson calling Andaya a liar, or is the senator himself the liar? Three: Lacson’s people claim that he’s already “made peace” with Arroyo. That would bring tears to the eyes of any lover of peace— were it not for the still-unsubstantiated story he spread about the humongous pork in her district for this year.

I’m bemused by Ressa’s latest antics.

If this is how the senator treats those he’s “made peace” with, I’d sure hate to be an enemy lined up in front of his infamous crosshairs. *** I’m bemused by the latest antics of the screaming, screeching diva at Rappler, the doyenne of online yellow journalism, Maria Ressa. This time around, she’s converted a libel case filed against her by a private citizen, businessman Wilfredo Keng, into a human rights offense of the highest order that has even usually level-headed ladies like Christiane Amanpour and the distinguished diplomat Madeline Albright up in arms on her behalf. One can only blanch at the credulity being evidenced at the highest levels of punditry. As P.T. Barnum usefully reminded us, there’s a sucker born every minute. Stories are now coming out about how Maria waited literally for days for the charges to be filed and the NBI agents to knock on her door so she could manufacture a tale of official persecution made for TV. It’s so blatant that even the National Press Club distanced itself from her antics and advised her to cool

it. If anybody knows from libel as an occupational hazard for media men, it’s the NPC. At a TV talk show, Maria repeatedly bobbed and weaved—Manny Pacquiao would have been impressed—at the repeated reminders from Palace spokesman Sal Panelo that the law was just being followed. It’s the same bob-and-weave strategy she’s followed in evading the cogent issues brought up against her: tax evasion, violating the Constitution, and lately, shilling for the yellows as Facebook’s mistakenly-appointed online watchdog. Most recently, online stories have been coming out about how her accuser, Mr. Keng, was recently rewarded a Manila Bay reclamation contract. The stories clearly state that it’s the provincial government of Cavite who awarded the contract, and nobody’s showing any shred of proof of misbehavior by Keng. But one can always count on the yellow hucksters—when they totally can’t connect any of the dots—to resort instead to blowing smoke up our asses to convince us there’s a fire. *** My own experience with libel suits is limited to just once. Decades ago, when I was cooling my heels in a martial-law prison, a Lyceum student leader named David Odilao charged me with libel for something I had written against him, not even as a journalist, but as a hot-headed know-it-all. The suit had me being flown to Cebu several times for the trial, always in handcuffs, in the company of a personable Constabulary officer named Lt. Lopez. I looked forward to the trips as opportunities to leave the Crame stockade and hang around ordinary people on the outside. It certainly never crossed my mind to blame President Marcos for the suit; he’d already thrown the maximum charge at me—subversion—and this was clearly nothing more than a personal beef by Odilao. In the end, I think the libel charge was dismissed. I never met Odilao, but if he’s still around, I’d love to get together with him over a beer or two. I think we’ll both agree that libel is essentially a private quarrel that shouldn’t be elevated into a cause celebre by people who want us to believe they’re martyrs but are really just plain law-breakers. Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

Because of the US oil embargo, Venezuela today ranks only no. 11 among the world’s largest oil producer. This represents a decline from over 1.2 million barrels in October, an average of 1.25 million barrels in the third quarter and from nearly 1.4 million barrels in the second quarter of last year. Venezuela's production has also plunged from an average of 1.9 million barrels in 2017. The country’s proven oil reserves are recognized as the largest in the world, totalling 297 billion barrels as of 1 January 2014. Despite the odds, the late President Hugo Chavez tried to invite foreign investors. For one, China has already loaned $50 billion for the last decade which payment comes mostly in the form of oil exports. During President Maduro’s visit to Beijing, China has promised to provide whatever help, like providing a $5 billion credit. Russia, on the other hand, remains Venezuela’s impost important partner in the Orinoco Belt area, referring to the oil fields in Northern Venezuela. Russia’s state-run oil company, Rosneft, has a vested interest since December 2016 when it took nearly 50 percent stake in Citgo, a US-based oil company that is owned by Venezuela’s energy giant, PDVSA, as collateral for a 1.54 billion loan. Russia also agreed to restructure Venezuela’s $3.5-billion

loan. Even if President Trump has been sounding the marching drum to take another jingoistic leap to intervene in the internal affairs of Venezuela, the war drums do not seem to jibe to where the US economically stands today. His infamous “build the wall” slogan is falling apart that it has caused the US to stop government operations for nearly three weeks and costs it about $4 billion. Even Organization of American States (OAS) has not been unanimous as when the US imposed an economic embargo on Cuba in the 60’s. While domestic politics in the US may have no direct bearing to the crisis in Venezuela, the intensified political differences between the Democrats which control the House of Representatives and the Republicans are today seen as weathervane on the future of the President and his cabal of neoliberals. The US Congress already hinted it will not support any military intervention in Venezuela. That now spells a redline for Trump; that should he cross the redline to involve US troops in another war would constitute an act that that would give the US Congress reason to get rid of him.

fore the Department of Justice was the same evidence offered by the Secretary of Justice during the congressional hearing on the Bilibid drug trade. A source alleges that the Department of Justice considered whether there was sufficient evidence to charge Ms. De Lima in court after the Secretary of Justice had already prejudged Ms. De Lima’s guilt during the congressional hearings.The Secretary of Justice and the Department of Justice acted both as prosecutor and judge in the determination of probable cause to charge her in court. Under national laws, the Department of Justice, when acting as a preliminary investigator, acts as a judge and must decide independently and impartially. For the source, this was violated when it was the

Secretary of Justice himself who presented witnesses and effectively “prosecuted” Ms. De Lima in a trial by publicity at the congressional hearings. The witnesses had been convicted of various criminal offenses and by law were even prohibited from being presented in court as State witnesses. The Opinion then continued to narrate how the state twisted the law in depriving Leila de Lima of procedural and substantial due process. In fact, certain rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have been violated, in particular the rights guaranteed. How the Working Group came to this conclusion will be elaborated in the next column.

production is expected to bring the cost down and could even lead to the emergence of a train-building industry that could provide more jobs for our growing labor force. And why not? But let me put all this in context. Japan built its first bullet trains way back in 1964, or 55 years ago, or less than two decades after its defeat in World War II. China was able to build an efficient and highly advanced railroad system in just ten years, if I’m not mistaken. And we’re just starting to build our own trains only now. Aid from Japan At any rate, another piece of good news we’d like to highlight is increased assistance from Japan for various development projects, including those in Mindanao. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Japan Foreign Minister Taro Kono recently signed the exchange of notes for the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP) in Davao City. The $202-million road network project in southern Philippines is one of many being funded by the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Apart from the road development project, JICA will also assist in the vocational training of former combatants, as well as in capacity building in Mindanao.

In 2017, Japan offered a one-trillion-yen (approximately P433 billion) aid package for the Philippines in the next five years to boost infrastructure development. The Japanese government is funding the Metro Manila subway project which is scheduled to be partially completed by 2022, the last year of the Duterte administration. The Japanese company which was awarded the P356-billion Metro Manila Subway Project submitted its proposal to the Department of Transportation last December 2018, but this has yet to be signed. The subway project is expected to start in the first quarter of this year and will be fully completed by the third quarter of 2025. Other Japan-funded projects in the pipeline include social safety nets to promote inclusive growth, social infrastructure, healthcare promotion, and the rehabilitation of former drug users. Japan has long been one of our major development partners, apart from the Western European countries and the United States. We’re glad that our bilateral ties with Japan have remained strong since the 1970s up to the present. We need all the assistance we can get from Japan, China, the European Union and the US so we can sustain our development momentum in the years ahead.

rpkapunan@gmail.com

ernhil@yahoo.com

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019

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How a university becomes a centenarian

VICENTE Fabella was no ordinary Filipino. He was this country’s first certified public accountant. He achieved that distinction in the early days of the US presence in the Philippines, a time when this country was just beginning to build up a corps of professionals. America’s colonial officialdom cannot have failed to take notice of the young Filipino who was a whiz with numbers. Vicente Fabella chose to direct his special professional capabilities towards financial education, believing that if the Philippines were to be viable as a full-fledged member of the community of nations, it had to have a corps of Filipinos well-trained for the principal professions. Accounting was among the most important of these, in Fabella’s view. Accordingly in 1919 Mr. Fabella founded the School of Accounts, Commerce and Finance of the Far Eastern Institute, which was renamed Jose Rizal College (JRC)— as a tribute to the national hero—in 1922. JRC remained in its R. Hidalgo St. (Quiapo) location until 1950, when it transferred to Mandaluyong, which at that time was a quiet neighborhood of the nation’s capital. This year is 100 years after 1919, and today, February 19, Jose Rizal University (JRU) is celebrating in grand style the day 100 years ago when the School of Accounts, Commerce and Finance opened its doors to the first group of Filipino students. All alumni and friends of JRU have been asked to participate in the centennial celebrations this evening at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Only a few tertiary-education institutions in this country can claim to be 100 years old or older, and there are not many cities and municipalities that can claim to be hosts of educational centenarians. Today the city of Mandaluyong joins the ranks of those hosts. The Tiger City has been hosting a tiger university. The century-long progress of a modest school of accounting to one of the nation’s most prestigious universities has been overseen by three generations of Fabellas. Vicente Fabella was succeeded at the helm of Jose Rizal College by his son Armand, a Harvard-trained economist, who later was to become President Diosdado Macapagal’s chief economic adviser and, later still, President Ramos’s Secretary of Education. When Dr. Armand Fabella

passed away several years ago, his son Dr. Vicente took his place at the helm of Jose Rizal University. How does an educational institution—any institution, for that matter—get to become 100 years old? First, it must be run by men of principle. JRC was closed throughout World War II, and the reason for that was Vicente Fabella wanted to show his—despite enormous pressure— solidarity with the anti-Japan cause. In addition, it is well known that Dr. Armand Fabella preferred to step down as Secretary rather than agree to the break-up of the Department of Education.

Today JRU’s alumni and friends should just raise their glasses.

A second requirement is vision. Vicente Fabella saw a first-rate institution of higher learning emerging from his modest school of accounting, commerce and finance. With his exposure to the Harvard system, Dr. Armand Fabella saw no reason why JRC could not reach the highest levels of educational achievement. Confirming the saying that the fruit does not fall far from the tree, current president Vincent Fabella has determinedly been building upon the foundation laid down by his grandfather and father. JRU has always had a strong high school structure. Over the years it has established a business Graduate School and a school of law that is steadily gaining acclaim and respect. The roster of JRU alumni has expanded beyond the world of commerce to encompass the worlds of governance, diplomacy, military service and the judiciary, among others. Numerous members of the banking community have passed through JRC’s portals along Shaw Boulevard. Given the vision-filled service and the dedication that have been displayed during the past 100 years by the Fabella family and the administration of the university, there is no reason why JRU should not be able to reach another centennial milestone. But 2119 is too distant to contemplate. Today JRU’s alumni and friends should just raise their glasses and drink a toast to the success of one of the finest educational institutions in the nation.

CIDG official out of his mind? I PERSONALLY know quite a few good men in the ranks of the Philippine National Police, officers and gentlemen whose brilliance and professionalism make the PNP a truly world-class law enforcement organization. There are times, however, when we come across or hear about some police officers who exhibit the flip side of brilliance and professionalism. A case in point is this incident encountered by two camera operators or videographers for an online sports program. They were allegedly illegally detained on orders of a local Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) official, and then slapped with trumped-up charges. The two sports videographers called me up in the middle of the night asking for help. They asked that their names be withheld. They claim they were setting up their camera for the field coverage of a derby at Tabora Cockpit Arena in Tuba, Baguio City last Friday afternoon. The said crew members of GenX Sports Inc., an outfit engaged with live streaming to subscribers abroad of various local games and sports events, alleged they were accosted and readily handcuffed for no clear reason nor provocation on their part. They were reportedly hauled, along with their outside broadcast van, to a Baguio City CIDG station and ordered detained by the station commander P/Supt. Cezar Paday-os without proper booking on any offense for 12 hours.

Neither Colonel Paday-os nor his men could not justify the videographers' arrest until they were cited for “illegal gambling.” The apprehended tandem vehemently denied engaging in “illegal gambling” as they were merely installing their camera, connected to their transmitter in their OB van just outside the cockpit complex with the proper permits from the local government unit and even with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR). In the first place, the cockfighting event in the popular venue must be legal, so the grounds and motive of their arrest appears irregular and questionable, as far as standard PNP procedures are concerned. What appeared to be an illegal arrest even took a bizarre turn when the police official told them to “have a hefty amount of money ready so they can post bail” or they would have to stay overnight behind bars. Why, is he an Inquest Fiscal who determines whether the apprehension justified detention and bail recommendation? Something smells fishy in the disposition of Colonel Paday-os, who either intended to extort money or was simply incompetent and incapable to properly dispense authority. We tried to contact and get Paday-os' (or his men’s) side of the story to no avail. But they are welcome anytime to explain their version of what actually transpired. We would not like to think that what we thought is an elite CIDG team nestled in the pine trees of the country’s summer capital is actually yet another bunch of bad eggs. Perhaps, CIDG Chief Director Amador Corpus needs to remind Col. Padayos to go after big-time illegal gambling lords instead of innocent people like cameramen at work.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019

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Arroyo moves to lower prices of goods thru RORO By Maricel V. Cruz

S

PEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has moved to lower prices of goods by opening at least seven new routes of the Roll-On Roll-Off system.

Arroyo flew to Cebu City on Monday to conduct the oversight committee meeting on Transportation, which sought to tackle the issues of the system, particularly to make it more efficient to bring down the prices of goods. Rep. Cesar Sarmiento of Catanduanes, chairman of the House of Representatives’ Commit-

tee on Transportation, headed the proceeding at the social hall of the Cebu Port Authority. This developed as the Maritime Industry Authority had revealed during the hearing that because of Arroyo’s prodding to open more Roro routes, at least seven new routes will be opened because several companies have applied to service them. “The reason why we put up the RORO system is we want to bring the cost of transporting food from Mindanao, where it’s plentiful, to Visayas and Luzon. And we hope that we’ll continue to reap [its] fruits,” Arroyo said. But during the hearing, it was revealed that except for those using ten-wheeler trucks, the cost of transporting goods is more expensive through the RORO than

the conventional methods. This is due to several factors including logistics, weighing methods, lack of reefer vans and trucker fees. During the hearing, it was revealed that exorbitant fees were being collected for the use of weighing scales. This prompted the Speaker to ask the Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to take over the operation of weighing scales since they have their weighing scales. “We will try to have another hearing to find out if the DPWH can be the one to take over the weighing,” she said. The Committee also discussed the issue on the high costs of transport brought about by the unavailability of reefer vans for perishable goods. However, it was revealed that there is actually an excess of vans at present.

IN BRIEF JV loses decades-old ‘lucky’ car in San Juan building fire SENATOR JV Ejercito said on Monday that he lost his ‘lucky’ car in a building fire near Greenhills in San Juan. Ejercito’s car, a Toyoto Sequioa, was among those which was burned down in the fire that engulfed an auto-shop along EDSA’s southbound lane near Connecticut Street. “I feel sad, my car for the past 10 years, my Toyota Sequioa burned in the fire at Autoplus Car Center this morning,” Ejercito said in a tweet. The reelectionist senator described the vehicle as his “lucky car.” “Feeling sentimental because we’ve been through so many battles and it was my most reliable, not to mention ‘lucky’ car. Will be missing this car,” Ejercito added.

Binay files bill shielding seniors from scammers SENATOR Nancy Binay has filed a bill seeking to shield senior citizens from fraudulent schemes of scammers. “It is our duty to protect and free senior citizens from abuse and exploitation of any kind,” Binay said in filing Senate bill No. 2158 entitled “Seniors Fraud Prevention Act.” In her explanatory note, the senator said it is the duty of the State to care for the elderly through just programs of social security. In seeking to protect and promote the welfare of senior citizens, Binay said the Department of Trade and Industry should be directed to establish an advisory office within the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection to assist and support the department in the prevention of fraud and scams targeting seniors’ finances. Macon Ramos-Araneta

BI apprehends 2 Africans with fake Canadian visas THE Bureau of Immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport held two Africans who recently attempted to enter and leave the country for Canada with fake Canadian visas. The foreigners, identified as Etienne Makang Nformem, a Cameroonian national and Abdelmotalab Idris Himat Mohamed, a Sudanese were intercepted at the NAIA 1. BI Port Operations Division Chief Grifton Medina said the Africans were arrested separately at the NAIA terminal 1 by members of the bureau’s travel control and enforcement unit. “We were able to frustrate their plan to gain entry into Canada illegally because their fraudulent scheme did not escape the watchful eyes of our immigration officers at the airport,” Medina said. Vito Barcelo

UNVEILING. Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat (left) poses with Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. Chairperson Luli Arroyo-Bernas during the unveiling of the Department of Tourism DOT Logo ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ held at the DOT office in Kalaw Street in Manila. Lino Santos

Tingog urges ‘timely’ cash grants for 4Ps beneficiaries THE Tingog partylist is urging for a “timely, targeted, and transitional” scheme in the Conditional Cash Transfer program under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, saying this is the best way to improve the lives of the beneficiaries. Philip Jude Acidre, the second nominee of Tingog, said that one of their legislative agenda is to institutionalize the 4Ps of the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure that the cycle of intergenerational poverty will be totally stopped. “How can the CCT be effective when it is delayed? It should be given to the beneficiaries every month and not every quarter,” Acidre said. He said that government should maxi-

mize the postal offices across the country to deliver the check or the cash every month to free the beneficiaries from spending long queues at the banks. Acidre added that CCT should be given to those who need it most, at the same time increase the amount of the cash transfer. “We’re giving too little amount and we try to spread it too wide to accommodate everyone. In the end, what we got is a small and delayed amount of money for the already poor beneficiaries. But in Latin American countries like Brazil and Mexico, where this conditional cash transfer program came from, the beneficiaries received their cash every month and the amount is equivalent to a mini-

mum wage,” Acidre said. According to Acidre, the government should invest more on 4Ps and work double time to end the economic woes of the beneficiaries. “Poverty is exponential. If we cannot resolve it fast, the children and even the children’s future families will suffer the most. They will become poorer than their parents if we will not come up with a better intervention. This is the reason why we are committed to institutionalizing of 4Ps so it will become a stronger anti-poverty program of the government,” said Acidre. Meanwhile, Acidre said that the public should not forget that the cash transfer is “conditional” in its term and should mean transitionary.

DOJ asked to indict PNP-HPG men tagged in Cebu lawyer’s death By Rey E. Requejo FORMER Cebu City councilor Nestor Archival on Monday pleaded the Department of Justice to prosecute policemen implicated in the killing of his brother, lawyer Noel Archival, five years ago. In a letter, Archival appealed to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to expedite the resolution of the petition seeking to file murder charges in court against regional officers of the Philippine National Police - Highway Patrol Group. In particular, Archival called on the DOJ

to resolve the petition for review seeking the reversal of the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors' Office dismissing the charges against Chief Insp. Eduardo Mara and Senior Police Officer 4 Edwin Galan. The councilor also asked Guevarra to reconsider the DOJ's resolution last year that junked the same charges against Chief Supt. Romualdo Iglesia, Sr.Insp. Joselito Lerion and PO1 Alex Bacani. "The evidence is very clear that these HPG officials had conspired in the murder of my brother Atty. Noel Archival," the letter said.

"I am writing this letter because I have full faith and trust in your leadership as the head of the Department of Justice," Archival added. He lamented how their petition for review against Mara and Galan has remained pending before the DOJ for two years now. "Our family was completely shocked and surprised why the Petition for Review filed by Iglesia has been recently granted by the Department of Justice with speed and dispatch while our Petition for Review with the Department of Justice has not yet been acted upon until now," he said.

CA greenlights revival of criminal case vs party-list By Rey E. Requejo THE Court of Appeals has upheld its decision ordering the Regional Trial Court of Pasig City to revive the criminal case filed against a partylist lawmaker and several others for illegal refilling of liquefied petroleum gas tanks belonging to giant oil companies. In a seven-page resolution, the CA’s Special Former Special Fifteenth Division through Associate Justice Marlene Gonzales-Sison denied the motion for reconsideration of petitioners Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers’ Association party-list Rep. Arnel Ty, Marie Antonette Ty, Benson Ng, Carlton Ng, and Alvin Ty for failure to raise reasonable ground to warrant the reversal of its ruling issued on June 22, 2018. “Wherefore, premises considered, the motion is denied for lack of merit. Our decision dated June 22, 2018 stands,” the appellate court declared. In its June 22, decision, the CA overturned and set aside the order issued by the Pasig RTC which granted the Office of the Prosecutor’s motion to withdraw information against Ty and co-petitioners for violation of Section 3 (d) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 33 or “An Act Defining and Penalizing Certain Prohibited Acts Inimical to the Public Interest and National Security Involving Petroleum and/or Petroleum Products, Prescribing Penalties therefor and for other Purposes.”

Manila to host confab of liver experts

THE City of Manila will host 200 of the world’s top liver experts and more than 4,000 registered foreign and local participants at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver February 20 to 24 at the Philippine International Convention Center. Dr. Diana A Payawal, 2019 APASL president, said the five day APASL Manila conference is significant as it returns to the country for the second time after 12 year s and comes at period of heightened global threats and challenges in the prevention, treatment and control of liver diseases. Payawal said the 200 international experts will discuss various topics on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of various liver diseases, hepatic surgery, liver transplantation, oncol-

ogy, diagnostic and interventional radiology, hepatopathology, as well as pediatric hepatology. To this end, Dr. Ian Homer Y. Cua, 2019 APASL 2019 secretary general, said the APASL 2019 organizing committee has aptly adopted the conference theme – “Soaring To New Heights In Hepatology” as the Manila conference aims to highlight the current paradigms and future perspectives in the management of liver diseases. A unique feature of APASL 2019 Manila, according to Dr. Janus P. Ong, 2019 scientific committee chair, is the Public Health Forum which will bring together public health professionals from asia pacific region and the the world in one place to discuss the progress and challenges in the regional initiatives to eliminate viral hepatitis.

ARRAIGNMENT. Filipino-Chinese businessman Kenneth Dong, who is suspected of being involved in the smuggling of 6.4 billion worth of shabu into the country in 2017, attends his arraignment for the case at the Manila RTC branch 46 on Monday. Dong was tagged by custom fixer Mark Taguba as the middleman that transported the shabu shipment to a warehouse in Valenzuela City. Norman Cruz

Sports

F2 Logistics begins PSL drive today Games Today (Filoil Flying V Centre) 2:00 p.m. – Petron vs PLDT 4:15 p.m. – UVC vs Sta. Lucia 7:00 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Cignal

F2 Logistics kicks off its title hunt when it collides with Cignal in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix today at the Filoil Flying V Centre. Reigning champion Petron tips things off when it clashes with PLDT at 2 p.m. while United VC tackle Sta. Lucia in the 4:15 p.m. battle of this prestigious women’s volleyball tourney that has ESPN5 and 5Plus as broadcast partners. Then, it’s going to be the Cargo Movers’ turn as they tangle with the HD Spikers in the 7 p.m. featured encounter of this league that is backed by Asics, Mikasa, Mueller, Senoh, Team Rebel Sports, Bizooku, UCPB Gen, Hotel Sogo and Data Project. Foton and the Sta. Lucia barged on top of the team standings after emerging victorious in the opening salvo. Drawing strength from former Turkish national team member Selime Ilyasoglu and American Courtney Felinski, the Tornadoes dominated United VC, 26-24, 25-20, 15-25, 25-21, while the Lady Realtors snapped their 13game losing streak when they eked out a heart-stopping 25-21, 22-25, 25-23, 16-25 win over Generika-Ayala. Joining them in the win column will be the main objective of F2 Logistics, which waged a recruiting coup in a bid to regain the crown of this import-flavored conference. After bowing to Petron in a thrilling finale last year, F2 Logistics tapped veteran reinforcement Lindsay Stalzer and prolific Italian-American journeywoman Becky Perry to join the solid core of Aby Marano, Ara Galang, Kianna Dy, Dawn Macandili, Majoy Baron and Kim Fajardo in its title quest. Stalzer, a three-time champion and former Most Valuable Player, steered the Blaze Spikers to the title last year and her addition will provide the Cargo Movers the experience and stability on the floor. Unfortunately for the Cargo Movers, the comely American will not join them until next week as she’s still in the thick of her campaign with Jakarta BNI Taplus, which is still competing in the finals of the Indonesian Proliga. “Lindsay will miss our first two matches and will arrive on the 24th,” said F2 Logistics’ team manager Hollie Reyes.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Lumapas leads Siddayao awardees

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PCOMING trackster Jessel Lumapas leads a short but compact list of Tony Siddayao awardees to be recognized in next Tuesday’s SMC-PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Annual Awards Night. Lumapas, a standout of Nazareth School of National University, will be joined by swimmers Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh and Marc Bryan Dula, along with figure skater Czerrine Ramos in receiving the honor handed out by the sportswriting community to promising athletes 17-years-old-and-below. Presented by MILO, Cignal TV, and

the Philippine Sports Commission, the special event will be held on Feb. 26 at the Centennial Hall – instead of the Maynila Ballroom as earlier announced – of the historic Manila Hotel. Named after the late veteran sports editor of the Manila Standard Tony Siddayao, considered as the Dean of Philippine sportswriting, prominent figures

of the Siddayao awards in the past who went to carve out names in their respective fields include Wesley So (chess), Kiefer Ravena and Jeron Teng (basketball), Doti Ardina (golf), Eumir Marcial (boxing), Rustom Lim (cycling), Malvinne and Markie Alcala (badminton), among others. On top of the 2018 list is the 17-year-old Lumapas, who was adjudged as the most outstanding athlete in last year’s Palarong Pambansa after winning a total of four gold medals in track and field. A native of Damarinas, Cavite, she later anchored the country’s

Cervantes steals show in PPS meet

Members of the Go for Gold Philippines Continenal Team

Go For Gold riders ready for more UCI races AFTER an encouraging campaign in the Ronda Pilipinas, the Go For Gold Philippines Continental Team will encounter more punishing roads ahead this year in its bid to send a Filipino rider to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Up next for Team Go For Gold is the five-stage Tour de Iskandar in Johor, Malaysia in April, another Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) race that offers points for Pinoy cyclists raring to don the national colors in the global Summer Games. ``We have to race in as many UCI races as we can to realize our dream of seeing a Filipino participate in the cycling competitions of the Olympics,’’ said Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go.

They will race in a series of multistage bikathons for the rest of the year in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka, among others, plus the Le Tour de Filipinas and national championships in June where an abundance of UCI points are at stake. ``We have a full exposure this year with 12 international races on schedule, including the Asian Cycling Championships late April,’’ said Go For Gold project director Ednalyn Hualda. Ismael Grospe secured the best young rider award after topping the under-23 category of the Ronda featuring 15 teams, eight of them foreign squads. Grospe’s efforts together with Jonel Carcueva, Elmer Navarro, Boots Ryan

Cayubit and Daniel Ven Carino installed Go For Gold at fourth overall in the team race of the five-day Ronda that ended last week in Pandan, Antique. They could have done better if not for the absence of team captain Ronnel Hualda after the opening stage in Iloilo City and the series of crashes and flat tires that the rest of the squad suffered throughout the race. Hualda had a bum stomach that affected his performance on the first stage, forcing the seasoned rider to miss the remaining stages. ``These things really happen in a race. The team might have lost its leader, but we still managed to finish fourth overall,’’ said Hualda.

AMA, McDavid open D-League cage campaigns Games Tuesday (Paco Arena, Manila) 2 p.m. - AMA Online Education vs McDavid 4 p.m. - CEU vs Diliman College-Gerry’s Grill

AMA Online Education and McDavid get their 2019 PBA D-League campaigns going when they face off on Tuesday at Paco Arena in Manila. Confidence is on a high for the Titans as coach Mark Herrera is parading a rejigged roster brimming with talent. Top overall pick Joshua Munzon will be unveiled for AMA as the Fil-Am swingman will be joined by fellow rookies Kib Montalbo of La Salle and Troy Rike of NU. Still in the Titans’ camp is hardworking forward Andre Paras as they aim to gain an early leadership in the Aspirants Group at 2 p.m. But it’s not going to be a walk in the park, especially with McDavid coach Allen Ricardo trotting out a veteran-laden crew in this maiden foray in the developmental ranks. Ogie Menor makes his PBA D-League return for the boys in red-and-white, as he teams up with ex-pros Jerick Canada, Jason Melano, and James Martinez. In the 4 p.m. game, Centro Escolar University and Diliman CollegeGerry’s Grill renew their rivalry in this Foundation Group clash. Rich Guinitaran, Pierce Chan, and Keanu Caballero banner the Derrick Pumaren-mentored Scorpions, as they will also be backstopped by Senegalese big man Maodo Malick Diouf. UCBL champion Diliman-Gerry’s Grill, on the other hand, will have former San Beda studs Jeramer Cabanag and Junjun Bonsubre reinforcing the Blue Dragons with coach Rensy Bajar calling the shots.

campaign in the ASEAN School game in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by winning two of the Philippines’ six-gold medal haul. The four recipients of the Siddayao awards make up part of the total 75 honorees to be recognized during the affair also backed by Chooks To Go, NorthPort, Rain or Shine, Tapa King, SM Prime Holdings, ICTSI, Mighty Sports, and the Philippine Basketball Association. Leading the honor roll are Hidilyn Diaz, golfers Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan, and Lois Kaye Go, and skateboarder Margielyn Didal, who are all named co-winner of the coveted Athlete

TABLE TENNIS CHAMP. Team Joola, led by World Championship of Pingpong campaigner John Russell Misal (sixth from left) receives its medal and trophy after finishing runner-up to Indonesia in the Men’s Open Team finals in the 9th Flexible Cup International Table Tennis Championships at the Harrison Plaza Activity Center in Malate, Manila. The Indonesian pulled off a 3-0 win against Team Joola in the winner-take-all finale in the three-day event backed by Flexible Packaging Corporation. Other members of the team are Table Tennis Association for National Development honorary president Charlie Lim (fifth from left), Chinese import Chen Lei Xin, Jong Ortalla, Alexis Bolante and Philip Uy (second from right), who claimed the 40-over men’s single gold medal.

Monfils beats friend Wawrinka for Rotterdam title ROTTERDAM—Gael Monfils defeated good friend Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 on Sunday to win his eighth career title at the Rotterdam Open. Monfils, the runner-up three years ago, held off Wawrinka’s second-set surge to ease through the decider. “It was an unbelievable week, a pleasure,” said Monfils. “Stan is a part of this win. We’ve been talking a lot and practising a lot. You’re my brother,” he told his Swiss opponent. “This has been a good week for Stan and a good week for me. I hope we can have many more battles.” Wawrinka, the 2015 champion in the Dutch port city who is continuing an 18-month comeback from double knee surgery, was playing in his first final since Roland Garros in June 2017. “It was great for sure to be in the final,” Wawrinka said. “I’m pleased with the way I played in it and the way I arrived to the final. “I played four good matches here, I kept my level up all week.” Three-time major winner Wawrinka said he hopes to build on his run this

week. “I need to keep doing what I’ve been doing the last few months. I need to play events to gain confidence. Keeping going is the only way to get back my ranking,” said the world number 68. It was the first championship match in 11 years at Rotterdam to feature two unseeded players. Monfils, 32, showed no hard evidence of the left wrist injury which has bothered him all week and forced him onto a regime of pain-killers. “I struggled with the wrist all week,” he said. “I came out running hard in the first game to make him feel GAEL MONFILS I was there. The Frenchman took the opening “But when I hit as hard as I could with the backhand -- ‘ohhh’,” he said set with two breaks of Wawrinka, but in reference to the wrist pain he was the 33-year-old Swiss immediately returned the favour with a 6-1 second feeling. “I’ve been in worse shape, but I’m set. In the third, Monfils broke for really exhausted after this week.” The world number 33 triumphed in 2-1, taking control of his opponent’s one and three-quarter hours with four mighty backhand. The Frenchman moved to 5-2 and service breaks against three-time major winner Wawrinka as he claimed saved a break point a game later as he closed out victory. AFP his first title since Doha last year.

UNRANKED Zkyla Cervantes pulled off a pair of tough wins over fancied rivals to grab the spotlight with Reyman Saldivar Jr. in the PPS-PEPP Kabacan National age group 2019 at the Kabacan Tennis Club in North Cotabao yesterday. While local bet Salvidar lived up to his top billing to dominate the boys’ 14- and 16-and-under singles play, Cervantes stunned top seed Ysay Ysulat of Kabacan in the semis, 6-3, 6-1, then blasted No. 2 Joyce Saldivar, 6-1, 6-0, to capture the girls’ 16-U diadem. The Alamada, North Cotabato find later held off top seed Jonn Nadela, 6-1, 6-4, for the 18-U crown in the Group 2 tournament hosted by Mayor Herlo Guzman Jr. and sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop Palawan Express Pera Padala. Reyman Saldivar earlier toppled Malaybalay’s Al Rasheed Lucman, 6-3, 6-3, in the 14-U finals then whipped Joross Manangking, 6-2, 6-0, to nail the 16-U plum and share the MVP honors with Cervantes in the third of the six-leg Mindanao swing of the circuit presented by Dunlop. “Cervantes’ victories further underscored the PPS-PEPP’s circuit’s thrust of producing fresh talents, especially in the countryside which we believe has so many promising players waiting to be tapped and developed,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. Other winners were Kabacan’s Yusuf Maldo (10-unisex), Lucman (boys’ 12U), Koronadal’s Bruce Hurtado (boys’ 18-U), Jeanne Rayray (girls’ 12-U) and Ysulat (14-U). Maldo survived Cian Ramirez, 5-4(5), 2-4, 5-4(5); Lucman upset No. 2 Jason Flores, 7-5, 6-1; Hurtado crushed Steve Aton, 6-0, 6-2; Rayray stopped Marial Betita, 6-2, 6-0; and Ysulat subdued Joyce Saldivar, 6-3, 6-1. Reyman Saldivar and Cervantes actually finished with three titles each with the former also ruling the 14-U doubles and the latter topping the 18-U side. Meanwhile, Kidapawan City will host the next stop on Feb. 21-25 with the fifth and sixth legs slated in Digos City on Feb. 28-March 4 and Tagum City on March 7-11, respectively.

PSA Forum goes to Clark IT’S going to be a special session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday as it goes to Clark Mimosa in Pampanga to discuss the preparations being done for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Appearing in the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Tapa King, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation are Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Vivencio Dizon, Vice President for Business Development Arrey Perez, and Alloy MTD Philippines Inc. President Patrick Nicolas David. The BCDA is the lead body in the construction of the 50-hectare New Clark City Sports Complex, which will serve as one of the major venues when the SEA Games return to the country this coming Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. The special Forum comes a week before the PSA, the country’s oldest media organization, holds its 2018 SMC-PSA Annual Awards Night at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph; sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Durant helps Team Lebron beat Giannis’ 5 By Paul David L. Gelario BASKETBALL TV’s (BTV) NBA All-Star Viewing Party at the Buffalo Wings in Glorietta 2 drew deafening cheers from the jam-packed media crowd after Team LeBron rallied from a 20-point deficit to crush Team Giannis, 178-164, in the 2019 NBA All-Star Game Monday (Sunday in the US). Team Giannis led as many as 20 points in the third quarter following a spectacular performance from team captain Giannis Antetokounmpo and Warriors’ sharpshooter Stephen Curry. Team Lebron responded with a three-point barrage midway in the third from Blazers’ Damian Lillard, Wizards’ Bradley Beal, reigning NBA MVP James Harden, and Warriors’ marksman Klay Thompson to tie the game, 127127, with 2:33 minutes left in the third quarter. Team Giannis found a six-point lead early in the fourth, 145-139, after a four-point play from Curry. With seven minutes remaining, it was a tied game at 155-155 as Team Giannis’ D’Angelo Russel, Blake Griffin, and Curry traded threes with Thompson, former NBA Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard, and two-time NBA All-Star Karl Anthony-Towns. Team Giannis, however, failed to respond to Kevin Durant’s late hot shooting streak as he sank all three of his three-point attempts to give Team Lebron enough breathing room at 175-162 with one minute left. Durant finished with a team-high 31 points of 6-of-9 from threes, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. For the second time in his career, Durant was awarded the KIA NBA All-Star Game MVP award. He was the the MVP in 2012. “It’s cool to be out there with some of the best players to ever play the game, and to win an MVP here in front of my family and friends is pretty sweet. I just keep trying to rack them (awards) up, I guess,” Durant said.

Adamson rips UE in softball; La Salle wins REIGNING MVP Jeanette Rusia shone as defending champion Adamson University scored an abbreviated 14-1 win over University of the East in the UAAP Season 81 softball tournament Monday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. Rusia had a third inning homerun to go with two RBIs and three hits, as the Lady Falcons’ bid for an eighth straight crown jumpstarted on a smashing note. In baseball Sunday, Gerald Riparip scored a game-tying hit and a go-ahead run in the second inning as Adamson University opened its title-retention bid with a narrow 2-1 run over National University. Krisha Cantor also homered right from the opening pitch as the Lady Falcons needed only four innings to emerge victorious in their season opener. Cantor and Arianne Vallestero had one RBI apiece for Adamson University. The Lady Warriors succumbed to the ferocious Lady Falcons’ hitting in the third, giving up 11 runs that put the game beyond recall. Earlier, De La Salle snatched the early softball lead with a 4-3 win over University of the Philippines. Adamson tied idle University of Santo Tomas in second place. Jam Arribas nailed the game-winning hit that sent Nica Velasco home in the bottom seventh to power the Lady Batters to their second straight win. The Lady Maroons, who squandered an early 2-0 lead, tied the game at 3-3 courtesy of Maryric Bernabe run. UP fell to 1-1 alongside National University, a 9-2 winner over Ateneo in the last game that lasted for six innings. In other baseball results, Gino Tantuico and Javi Macasaet homered, while Paulo Macasaet struck out 11 batters and gave up only six hits as Ateneo blasted UST in just seven innings, 13-3.

LeBron James of Team Lebron celebrates with Kevin Durant #35 of Team Lebron during the 2019 NBA All-Star Game at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. AFP

Bullpups stun Eaglets, zero in on UAAP crown By Peter Atencio

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HE two big men of the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups, Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao, outworked the Ateneo Blue Eaglets’ twin towers Kai Sotto and Geo Chiu in Game 1 of the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) junior basketball tournament.

The 6’7” Tamayo and the 6’6” Quiambao made their presence felt in the final period to help lift the Bullpups to a 70-58 beating of the Blue Eaglets yesterday in Game 1 of their best-of-three finals series at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan. They created openings for top gunners Terrence Fortea and Cyril Gonzales in the last three minutes, and their heroics put the Bullpups a win closer

to their seventh crown since 1963. Tamayo tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Quiambao made 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who could snatch the defending champion Blue Eaglets’ title if they win again on Friday in Game 2. “Sa first half, unsettled ang kanilang composure. Pero sa second half, nakita natin ang laro ng tunay na Bullpups,” said Bullpups’ coach Goldwin Monteverde.

Game Friday (Game 2 at the Arena, San Juan) 3 p.m. Ateneo vs NU

Fortea banged in 11 points with Gerry Abadiano, including two triples in the last 29 seconds of the third period. Fortea’s treys allowed the Bullpups to take command and keep their distance with a 53-45 edge at the end of the quarter. The Blue Eaglets struggled to keep up and managed to stay within range off JC Fetalvero’s treys, 58-62, with 1:31 to go. But the Bullpups took advantage of Chiu’s missed trey and stayed out of reach behind Fortea’s two freebies for a 67-58 lead. The 7’1” Sotto drilled in 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Blue Eaglets, while Chiu tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Yap wants to continue resurgence By Jeric Lopez CURRENTLY enjoying a career renaissance so far this season, James Yap has his eyes on the bigger prize. Since being traded to Rain or Shine last 2016, Yap wanted to help deliver a championship to the Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association. “Sana makapag-champion naman ako as a Rain or Shine player,” said Yap, who won all of his seven championships with then team Magnolia (formerly Purefoods). With the way the Elasto Painters are playing in the 2019 Philippine Cup, that might not be too farfetched. Rain or Shine sits at the top of the heap with a 7-1 record and is also the league’s hottest team, having won five straight. Maximizing his rediscovered touch, Yap is leading Rain or Shine’s charge by averaging 13 points over the team’s last three wins as he continues to defy father time at 37 years old. In fact, Yap dropped the game-winning three-point play against his former team, the Hotshots, last week to lead Rain or Shine to its last win, 75-74. For that, Yap is the reigning PBA Player of the Week and he is looking forward to sustain his and his team’s fiery start. “Masaya kasi nakakatulong ako more sa team and nananalo kami. Sana mag-tuloy tuloy na,” he said. One of the PBA’s top 40 players of all time, Yap has done it all in his illustrious career and a possible championship run with the Painters will be a nice addition to his resume.

JAMES YAP

Qatar aims to build $20B sports industry DOHA—Qatar wants to build a $20 billion sports industry by 2022 as it seeks to develop new markets amid regional political tensions, an economic official in the emirate said Sunday. Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, chief executive of the Qatar Financial Centre, said he expected the target to be reached within three years -- without specifying how the figure was reached or giving its current value. Jaida said there would be “a major expansion of sports in terms of targets and in terms of focus”. Although well-known for hosting sporting events -- and Qatar is likely to bid again to host the Olympics -Jaida said the new approach would go further. The development of the industry would focus not only on hosting, but increased use of Qatari sporting medical and training facilities considered among the best in the world. One of the ways, he added, would be to cash in on the growing international reputation of the country’s expensive sports’ training centre, the Aspire Academy, who had officials present at the launch Sunday. Aspire is used by an increasing number of teams -- including Bayern Munich and Qatari-owned Paris SaintGermain -- and is a hothouse for many of the local players who recently helped Qatar win the Asian Cup. “We’re doing this in coordination with Aspire and if you look at the infrastructure that they put together it’s massive, it’s world class and I think we can build upon their success,” said Jaida. The QFC is a government-backed business body that aims to attract domestic and international investment into Qatar. Jaida admitted that the new approach had been driven because of political tensions in the Gulf. “The strategy came about because of the geo-political situation,” he said. Since June 2017, Qatar has found itself isolated from neighbouring former allies in a bitter political dispute. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain accuse Qatar of supporting and funding “terrorism” and of working with Riyadh’s regional foe Iran.

All eyes on Saso as PH Ladies’ Open unwraps

Yuka Saso will be going for back-to-back golf titles.

YUKA Saso gets the chance to showcase her wares against a crack international field in pursuit of a second straight crown in the Champion Philippine Ladies Amateur Open which unwraps today (Feb. 19) at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Forbes Park. Premium will be on shotmaking and putting with Saso tipped to lead the assault on the well-kept layout making its return as host of the country’s premier championship which drew a cast of 94 players, including 31 from Taiwan, six each from Singapore and the US, four from Korea, three each from Australia and Thailand and two from Japan. “The greens are tough and I think it will all boil down to putting,” said Saso, who spent the rest of yesterday’s

practice day polishing her stroke in a bid to contend again. The 17-year-old Saso spearheads the bid of the big 39-player local side out to extend its win run to four after Princess Superal broke Thailand’s three-year reign with a victory at Tagaytay Midlands in 2016. Bianca Pagdanganan topped the 2017 edition at Wack Wack before Saso rallied to beat Mikha Fortuna by two at the Orchard last year. That victory somehow portended the coming of a big year for Saso, who went on to snare the gold medal while powering the Philippines to the team championship in the Asian Games in Jakarta. That makes her the player to beat in the 54-hole championship presented

by Champion and sponsored by Hana Shampoo, EVA Air, San Miguel Corp. and Diamond Motor Corp. although the Fil-Japanese remains wary of the field, which teems with enormous talents, including the troika of young Thais in Yosita Khawnuna and Natthakritta Vongtaveelap and Chanettee Wannasaen, The Taiwanese are also all geared up for a crack at the crown with Sung You-Chuan, Chiang Su-Er and Lee Shu Fen hoping for a strong start and a stronger finish in the tournament backed by Cherrylume, Inquirer, Elm’s Kapihan Group, Atty. Gilberto Duavit, G&W Club Shares, Inc., Pascual Laboratories, Metro Pacific Corp., Ayala Land Premiere, Venice Godio, Taishan Insurance Brokers Phils.

IN BRIEF Alsons starts test on Sarangani plant SARANGANI Energy Corp., a unit of Alsons Consolidated Resources Corp., has started testing and commissioning its second 105-megawatt power plant in preparation for full commercial operation by the middle of the year. The new power plant unit is expected to provide much-needed power to other areas in Mindanao that are prone to outages. The company plans to supply the provinces of Davao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, North Cotabato, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, including the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Dapitan, Digos, Dipolog, Koronadal, Kidapawan and Pagadian and other areas in South Cotabato not yet being served by the first 105-MW unit that started commercial operations in 2017. “Completion of the additional 105MW unit will now have the SEC plant running at its full capacity of 210 MW, which will provide power to at least six million Mindanaoans,” the company said in a statement. Sarangani Energy is credited for providing the much-needed boost to the local economy of Maasim town in Sarangani province. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

Hyundai sales fell slightly in January KOREAN car manufacturer and exporter Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. reported sales of 2,758 units in January, down 5 percent from 2,903 units year-on-year. Hari president and chief executive Ma. Fe Perez- Agudo is optimistic the slight downturn will self-correct during the rest of the year. “The outlook for the Philippine automotive industry remains optimistic as macroeconomic headwinds begin to ease. Hyundai stands resolute as it brings in new and market-leading products to take advantage of the opportunities laid out in 2019,” she said. Sales of the passenger car segment declined 29 percent to 1,443 units from 2,036 units a year ago. Hari said the release of the New Accent would help the segment achieve a consistent demand for the brand’s poplar sedans. The company expects sales of Hyundai passenger cars to eventually increase in the coming months with the recent launch of the Reina. Othel V. Campos

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019

B1

By Julito G. Rada

GLOBE MYBUSINESS IN BACOLOD. Globe myBusiness, the micro, small and medium enterprise arm of Globe Telecom Inc., brings industry experts to Bacolod City to help local businesses, especially those in the supply chain—manufacturing, logistics, wholesale and retail—face the challenges of today’s digital world. Shown are (from left) Globe Stores retail area head for Negros 1 Kate Nicasio, Globe external affairs manager Patrick Gloria, Globe regional sales head for Western Visayas Anne Sison, Globe myBusiness segment marketing head Anne David, Globe myBusiness team marketing head Celeste Porto, Bacolod City administrator John Orola, DTI Trade Industry Development chief Rachel Nufable, motivational speaker Francis Kong and Globe sales cluster head for Visayas and Mindanao Jojit Lanas.

Absence of franchise delays third major telco operations By Darwin G. Amojelar

M

ISLATEL Consortium of Davao City-based businessman Dennis Uy and China Telecom is unlikely to start operations as the new third telecom player in the first quarter this year in the absence of a Congressional franchise, the Department of Information and Communications Technology said Monday. “They could not start. They could not get the frequency and the CPCN [certificate of public convenience and necessity] to operate as a third telco until we can get the approval of the bicameral committee,” DICT acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. told reporters. “It’s not their fault. We have to wait for them,” he said. The Senate adopted Concurrent Resolution 23 on Feb. 6 which approved the transfer, sale or assignment of the controlling interest of Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co. to Uy’s Udenna Corp., Chelsea Holdings Corp. and state-run China Telecommunications Corp.

Rio said the agency was now awaiting Congress to resolve Mislatel’s Congressional franchise. The 17th Congress adjourned its session on Feb. 9 and would resume on May 20 to June 7. Mislatel Consortium, composed of Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp. and Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp., and stateowned China Telecom, was named as the new third telco but failed to complete its post-qualification requirements to obtain its CPCN. The National Telecommunications Commission said the consortium had yet to submit a copy of its business plan,

Neda committee approves P1.3-b support for PCC THE Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority approved a P1.3-billion project to upgrade the capacity of the Philippine Competition Commission. The National Economic and Development Authority said the “Capacity Building to Foster Competition Project” of the PCC would cost P1.322 billion, with P1.217 billion to be funded through a loan from the Asian Development Bank. It aims to institutionalize the capacity of the government to enforce the Philippine Competition Law and promote free and fair competition in economic activities through capacity training, scholarships and establishment of academic centers. The project is set to be implemented from the third quarter of 2019 to January 2025. Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, who co-chairs the ICC-CabCom with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, said the project was expected to contribute to the enhancement of market competition in the economy. “With improved manpower of PCC and other government agencies, through exposure to different fields, including competition economics, competition policy, and data science, we can expect market competition in the economy to be enhanced,” Pernia said. The project is seen to foster competition in key economic sectors that are crucial in achieving inclusive development and improve the country’s ranking in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index. In 2017, the Philippines ranked 56th out 137 countries in the GCI. Julito G. Rada

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

NFA told to submit restructuring plan as open rice trade starts on March 3

Toyota hosts PH launching of Hiace TOYOTA Motor Philippines hosted Monday the world premier of the improved, full-model change Hiace in Manila as a primary market for the Toyota vans. Toyota president Satoru Suzuki said the Philippines was selected as the first to launch the all-new Hiace among the company’s major markets because of the versatility of the vehicle “We, at Toyota Motor Philippines, are honored to host the World Premiere of the All-New Toyota Hiace. For the first time, the world’s eyes are on the Philippines, to witness the unveiling of the Full Model Change Hiace, never before exhibited elsewhere. The Hiace model has a long and meaningful history with the Filipino. Since its introduction in 1994, the Hiace has been bringing people closer together by taking them to adventures and experiences, leading to wonderful memories that last a lifetime,” he said. He added the debut of the All-New Hiace came at an opportune time for Toyota, which is celebrating the 17th consecutive Triple Crown victory of the company. Othel V. Campos

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

authentication/consularization of foreign documents and rollout plan because of the issue on Congressional franchise. Milatel, however, secured the Philippine Competition Commission’s approval for bidding agreement implementation and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s clearance after proving that the terms of bidding agreement were compliant with foreign equity ownership. Under Mislatel’s rollout plan, the company would roll out its network immediately upon securing the CPCN from the NTC. Mislatel’s network should be ready and testing should start within 12 months from the CPCN issuance. The 17 cities/municipalities in Metro Manila will be covered as the priority in the first year, as well as parts of Central Luzon, Calarbarzon and the Ilocos region. More than 20,000 barangays are supposed to be covered by the fifth year. The population coverage was expected to reach 84 percent by that time. Mislatel Consortium said it would spend P257 billion in infrastructure and service rollout during the five-year period.

BONCHON’S EXPANSION. Bonchon,

the leading Korean fast food known globally for its Koreanstyle crispy fried chicken, taps the expertise of Francorp, the world’s largest franchise consulting company. After eight successful years in the Philippines and with increasing loyal following, Bonchon is more than ready for an aggressive expansion plan that will lead into opening more doors in strategic locations across the nation. Sealing the partnership are (from left) Francorp assistant vice president Lito Samson, Bonchon senior financial analyst Paulina Tan, Francorp chief marketing officer Sam Christopher Lim, Bonchon managing director Scott Tan and Bonchon general manager Roel Sun.

Naia Terminal 2 rehab to be completed by first quarter of 2020 THE Manila International Airport Authority said it expects to complete the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 by March 2020. “We started last September 2018 and despite the challenges, we shall proceed as planned. I say challenges because we are business as usual despite ongoing works. We hope to deliver on our promise to finish everything by March next year,” MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said. The project involves the architectural facelifting with the replacement of damaged floor finishes and the restoration and chemical cleaning of stained floor finishes in the arrival and departure passenger movement areas. Damaged ceilings will be replaced.

Thirty-two sets of skylight roofing will be repaired. Seismic/expansion joints in general areas, baggage claim area and elevated roadway are to be replaced as well, he said. The project will upgrade the walls, columns, beams and soffit finishes at the arrival and departure passenger movement areas, aerobridge areas and elevated roadway. It will also replace glass doors at the pre-departure gates and fixed bridge gates and clean and polish metal frames, metal louvers and claddings. The MIAA said a marked improvement will soon greet passengers with the expansion of the departure check-in hall and the arrival baggage area. The work includes the construction of a drop

wall, installation of structural framing, installation of new glass wall panels and partitions, glass doors and metal ceiling panels. It said to complement the expansion of these two areas, additional air-conditioning system, power, lightings, fire protection, electronics and communications systems will be installed. The construction of a power room is necessary to host additional power supply requirements for the installations. The exterior of the building will have its share of fixing as exterior ledges, walls, beams, soffit, pathways and pocket gardens undergo waterproofing works. Additional tubular bars at the bottom of existing railings will be put in place, the agency said. Darwin G. Amojelar

A COUNCIL headed by Cabinet officials asked state-run National Food Authority to submit a restructuring plan within 30 days as the open rice trade is set to start on March 3. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III headed the NFA Council meeting Monday following the signing of Republic Act No. 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Act by President Roderigo Duterte on Feb. 15. The new law that amended RA 8178 lifted the quantitative restrictions on rice and replaced it with 40-percent tariff. The NFA Council also instructed the NFA to submit a restructuring plan within 30 days, instead of the initial proposal of 180 days. Dominguez presided over the meeting as endorsed by Agriculture Secretary and NFA Council chairman Emmanuel Piñol, who was unavailable during the meeting. “Our objective in liberalizing rice imports is to bring down the costs of the staple. Our price is 50-percent higher than the others, including Singapore which does not produce rice. Will it take us 180 days to effect a reduction in the cost of living our the people?” said Dominguez during the meeting. Dominguez proposed during the meeting that the National Economic and Development Authority determine what funds could be freed up as a result of the restructuring of the agency to ensure that farmers would receive the support they needed. The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund mandated under the rice tariffication law is still in the process of being set up. The meeting was called to immediately discuss the implementing rules and regulations of RA 11203. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez proposed that the shift to a tariffied regime as mandated under the law be done as soon as possible.

Asean think tank expects PH to grow by 6.4% this year THE Philippine economy is expected to rebound with a 6.4-percent growth in 2019, faster than 6.2 percent in 2018, on the back of major infrastructure projects, the research unit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus Three said in a report. The Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office said in the 2018 Annual Consultation Report on the Philippines that the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program would support economic expansion this year. It said economic growth slowed down to 6.2 percent in 2018 amid weaker external demand and private consumption. “The economy is projected to recover to grow by 6.4 percent in 2019. The government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program will continue to provide impetus to the economy,” Amro said. It said private consumption was expected to recover as inflation pressure eased and consumer confidence was restored. Exports, however, would remain tepid, the think tank said. Headline inflation is expected to continue its downward trend that started in late 2018 into the 2-percent to 4-percent target range in 2019, on lower oil prices and continuing rollout of government measures to dampen inflationary pressures, such as the passage of the rice tariffication bill. “The Philippine external position has weakened due to a wider current account deficit and larger non-foreign direct investment capital outflows. As a result, international reserves declined, but have remained more than adequate in terms of imports coverage and short-term external debt repayment capacity,” Amro said. It said that because of the high demand for imports of capital goods and raw materials for infrastructure investment projects, the current account would remain in deficit this year. Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks rally; JG Summit climbs T HE stock market rose Monday in step with the rest of Asia as investors grow increasingly confident that China and the United States will eventually hammer out a deal to end their long-running trade war.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 62.44 points, or 0.8 percent, to 7,971.33 on a value turnover of P11.1 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 114 to 97, with 39 issues unchanged. JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei advanced 7.8 percent to P67.10, while International Container Terminal Services Inc. of port tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. added 2.6 per-

cent to P118. Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. climbed 7.1 percent to P174.50, while unit San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. surged 8.6 percent to P99.85. The rest of Asian markets rallied with oil and high-yielding currencies Monday. While talks ended Friday in Beijing with no deal, negotiators shift to Washington this week with Donald Trump saying discussions were going “extremely well” and suggesting he could extend a March 1 truce deadline for an agreement to be reached. The high-level discussions between the economic superpowers are expected to yield a memorandum of understanding ahead of a meeting between Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to finalize a pact. The upbeat mood in Asia follows a strong lead from Wall Street, while a bipartisan deal to avert another US

government shutdown and the Federal Reserve’s recent dovish tone on interest rates have also provided support. The positive news comes at a crucial time as China’s economy stutters and the global outlook looks less certain, with the US also showing signs of slowing. “With a weakening US economy, the motivation for both sides to get something agreed in the short term is quite high as they still debate the more structural issues that lurk in the background,” Sunny Bangia, a global equities fund manager at Antipodes Partners, told Bloomberg TV. Tokyo ended 1.8 percent higher, while Hong Kong added 1.7 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai surged 2.7 percent as data at the weekend showed a surge in new Chinese loans, indicating moves to kickstart growth. Sydney put on 0.4 percent, Singapore and Taipei each gained one percent,

while Singapore was 0.9 percent higher. Jakarta gained more than one percent apiece, though Mumbai eased 0.5 percent. The prospect of an end to the near year-long US-China trade row has also provided a lift to regional currencies against the dollar with investors moving into higher-risk units. Dealers will be closely watching the release later in the week of minutes from the Fed’s latest policy meeting, hoping for a better idea of its rate plans. Indonesia’s rupiah, the South Korean won and the Australian dollar were among the biggest gainers. Oil extended last week’s sharp gains on signs that Opec members and other major producers led by Russia are cutting output. Both main contracts were higher Monday, with Brent having surged 6.7 percent last week and WTI soaring 5.4 percent. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.25 10,110 89.2 2,985,820 2.23 38,000 133.5 3,002,730 1.48 130,000 27.75 113,300 17.4 119,400 12.96 170,100 4.43 147,000 7.75 1,500 0.66 127,000 1.49 1,000 820 20 0.465 220,000 80.4 3,559,260 1.16 1,112,000 13.8 35,300 22.2 1,300 48.4 115,400 185 1,070 59 7,610 26.5 95,100 173.1 60,070 1,800 455 62 16,410 1.14 122,000

596,085 268,619,175 84,740 401,286,788 185,680 3,141,085 2,090,762 2,208,332 653,310 11,625 79,380 1,490 16,400 102,800 286,224,216 1,321,170 486,384 28,120 5,593,460 197,951 449,617 2,523,135 10,401,968 819,000 1,016,956.50 139,580

543,665.50 -9,817,055 -11,053,540 2,790 352,874 -1,201,566 4,470 -25,934,031.50 -21,280 1,380 843,035.00 185,000 46,688.50 1,348,780 -399,260 -4,326 -

34.3 16.28 1.03 1.52 0.244 2.23 15.8 125 28.55 16.8 41 64 71 1.8 6.1 6.62 11.54 15.9 8 7.6 1.66 20.1 72.7 26.3 3.19 9.39 12.32 1.71 312 53.2 3.5 12.62 27.05 13.02 18.08 355 0.201 5.87 1.35 3.7 6.5 8.88 1.29 11.32 46.7 6 4.75 1.88 2.82 1.34 12.54 95.3 6.36 0.132 1.1 145 2.84 1.69 1.38

INDUSTRIAL 34.9 850,700 16.66 663,800 1.03 2,234,000 1.57 1,495,000 0.25 2,720,000 2.26 9,320,000 15.88 345,900 127.8 230 28.9 258,500 16.98 2,000 41 89,200 66 980 71 40 1.8 189,000 6.1 1,500 6.62 25,800 11.64 955,000 16.02 595,000 8.11 599,600 7.6 90,000 1.66 1,000 20.3 3,744,200 72.8 507,290 27.3 332,100 3.22 38,348,000 9.5 3,107,400 12.42 398,000 1.73 197,000 312 287,990 54 5,150 3.72 30,000 12.8 159,200 27.2 122,100 13.08 188,600 18.5 4,164,400 358 90,680 0.202 1,490,000 5.87 30,600 1.38 2,492,000 3.78 706,000 6.6 26,819,700 8.88 6,800 1.29 5,865,000 11.7 392,200 47.05 1,007,200 6.05 88,200 4.75 10,000 1.88 171,000 2.82 63,000 1.4 313,000 12.58 43,000 99.85 1,821,320 6.39 50,000 0.132 610,000 1.11 3,398,000 145 331,010 3 1,208,000 1.71 1,577,000 1.41 905,000

29,746,215 11,076,480 2,320,630 2,330,640 669,700 21,040,150 5,487,316 29,334 7,457,165 33,786 3,659,050 63,580 2,840 343,150 9,520 171,752 11,081,508 9,519,982 4,818,289 684,866 1,660 76,021,260 37,514,127 9,066,285 127,078,940 29,545,121 4,930,250 339,740 90,486,342 277,990 109,150 2,064,538 3,319,900 2,472,398 76,647,322 32,463,722 302,140 180,787 3,413,100 2,668,950 177,022,691 60,399 7,622,020 4,554,206 47,326,490 529,450 47,500 322,220 182,680 424,830 541,554 178,097,365.50 318,665 80,520 3,888,130 48,089,121 3,894,960 2,703,830 1,263,810

4,186,490 3,208,526 -36,050 -45,240 393,840 -1,293,310.00 139,026 -544,690 -140,650 52,460 -30,022 -5,236,006 616,392 24,000 661,162 -47,658,120 -2,048,739.50 -4,065,230 6,702,903 1,587,790 -38,843,858 11,628 1,400,555 50,303,362 -7,469,346 -23,240.00 -18,950 -12,390,136 -478,400 -574,166 -10,499,835 -335,900 3,020 16,200 273,328.00 -136,448 -101,760 8,176,447 -37,310 -213,150 50,740

0.86 65.4 13.98 0.91 6.59 22.95 1.45 1.47 949 7.5 12.5 14.3 0.285 1,005 6.15 67.3 5.85 0.63 5.26 15.5 0.59 4.9 0.045 1.18 2.69 3.5 175.7 2.37 994.5 0.8 1.4 466 285 0.265 0.385

0.82 63.55 13.72 0.82 6.5 22 1.42 1.42 943.5 7.34 12.28 13.22 0.237 988 6.12 65 5.51 0.61 5 15 0.57 4.8 0.042 1.17 2.6 2.65 165 2.36 961 0.79 1.37 466 278 0.255 0.335

HOLDING FIRMS 0.83 44,806,000 63.55 679,270 13.88 5,783,000 0.83 2,229,000 6.51 30,200 22 137,100 1.44 2,465,000 1.44 523,000 945 248,170 7.48 398,900 12.28 1,274,500 13.98 1,357,700 0.265 7,250,000 1,000 124,820 6.15 7,000 67.1 8,239,880 5.75 11,300 0.62 203,000 5.15 1,242,000 15 879,000 0.57 138,000 4.83 3,497,000 0.042 92,700,000 1.17 39,000 2.68 582,000 2.82 220,000 174.5 2,406,420 2.36 9,000 970 242,880 0.79 126,000 1.37 164,000 466 30 285 8,040 0.26 2,440,000 0.34 34,290,000

37,309,160 43,622,084 80,004,646 1,882,700 196,681 3,054,330 3,532,850 755,080 234,788,965 2,966,112 15,702,800 18,825,096 1,952,160 123,817,805 42,937 543,967,208.50 65,591 125,860 6,303,972 13,436,300 79,240 16,955,270 4,036,000 45,670 1,529,080 636,970 416,643,683 21,310 236,419,415 99,840 224,950 13,980 2,276,556 631,750 12,170,800

-751,440 -10,652,996 -7,744,348 118,950 -2,280 434,000 2,613,940 1,606,013 -2,506,030 1,251,006 5,300 -62,848,800 -72,903,150.50 -1,757,843 3,286,956 3,280,210 -52,400 235,500 107,722,112 -86,042,620 -38,920 78,000 570,650

12.2 0.81 11.04 2.04 0.94 44.95 2.63 4.19 0.5 0.86 0.94 0.26 0.45 10.4 23.1 0.59 0.138 1.55 1.27 5.2

11.52 0.79 11.04 1.88 0.87 44.4 2.5 4 0.485 0.8 0.89 0.25 0.41 10 22.5 0.54 0.13 1.53 1.24 5.12

76,469,654 400,150 1,104 755,800 4,041,790 376,413,400 2,566,110 4,951,400 2,312,800 372,910 257,920 4,045,300 668,950 9,140,892 8,460,935 1,476,600 170,260 7,073,280 2,404,260 47,060,089

1,285,880 -95,000 89,000 46,766,065 -633,440.00 10,000 19,870 8,900 5,080 -216,455 -163,900 9,060 -694,720 5,606,341

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG FILIPINO FUND FIRST ABACUS IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

58.15 89.55 2.23 133.7 1.43 27.95 17.36 13.14 4.6 7.75 0.61 1.49 820 0.465 80.1 1.23 13.8 21.55 48.3 185 59 26.8 172.2 1,800 62 1.14

59.25 91 2.23 134.1 1.48 28 17.64 13.14 4.6 7.75 0.66 1.49 820 0.495 81 1.23 13.8 22.2 48.95 185.1 59.15 26.8 175.4 1,800 62 1.15

58.15 89.2 2.23 133.2 1.42 27.65 17.36 12.9 4.43 7.75 0.6 1.49 820 0.465 79.9 1.16 13.62 21.55 48.3 185 58.9 26.5 172.2 1,800 61.8 1.14

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CONCRETE B CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA GREENERGY HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

35.9 16.3 1.03 1.56 0.246 2.25 15.98 125 29 16.8 42.5 64 71 1.88 6.47 6.7 11.66 15.96 8.25 7.62 1.66 20.65 72.8 27.4 3.2 9.39 12.5 1.72 317 53.2 3.6 14 27.35 13.1 18.2 361.8 0.202 5.92 1.36 3.78 6.75 8.88 1.31 11.6 47.4 6 4.75 1.89 3.02 1.37 12.54 95.4 6.36 0.132 1.22 146 2.84 1.72 1.4

35.9 16.76 1.05 1.59 0.255 2.28 15.98 128 29 17.04 42.5 66 71 1.88 6.47 6.7 11.7 16.04 8.25 7.7 1.66 20.7 74.2 27.75 3.46 10 12.5 1.74 319.8 55 3.79 14 27.45 13.3 18.54 361.8 0.207 5.92 1.39 3.79 6.8 8.89 1.32 11.7 47.4 6.05 4.75 1.89 3.04 1.41 12.9 99.9 6.4 0.132 1.22 146 4 1.73 1.42

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION REPUBLIC GLASS SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.86 65.4 13.86 0.9 6.59 22 1.44 1.44 948.5 7.34 12.42 14.06 0.237 990 6.14 65 5.51 0.63 5.26 15.5 0.59 4.8 0.043 1.17 2.61 2.85 165 2.37 971 0.8 1.4 466 280 0.26 0.375

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD

11.98 0.79 11.04 2.04 0.9 44.6 2.51 4 0.485 0.86 0.91 0.255 0.415 10.4 22.5 0.57 0.133 1.53 1.25 5.13

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

0.435 0.47 2.21 0.48 2.78 22 2.03 3.15 38.85 1.44 6.2 0.84 6.8

0.44 0.47 2.24 0.485 2.84 22.8 2.05 3.15 39.2 1.44 6.6 0.84 8.5

0.425 0.465 2.2 0.47 2.66 22 2.02 3.12 38.25 1.36 6.12 0.78 6.7

0.44 0.47 2.22 0.475 2.83 22.6 2.02 3.12 38.25 1.41 6.4 0.79 8

8,000,000 100,000 1,987,000 530,000 709,000 2,102,100 128,000 93,000 4,504,200 358,000 602,900 239,000 65,504,400

3,452,700 46,850 4,389,260 252,300 1,967,610 47,504,120 260,300 291,680 174,125,390 500,210 3,855,825 188,860 504,708,041

-38,750 -26,480 169,820 31,716,545 -80,650,065 -150,971,113

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PH RESORTS GRP PHIL RACING PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

13.7 23 1.31 0.46 0.044 2.86 12.5 0.068 86.5 8.38 6.24 7.2 2.29 15 1,900 5.8 360 11.9 2.93 2.05 115.8 10.94 7.21 0.133 6.2 3.16 15.98 3.35 0.89 19.68 0.8 4.75 3 2.07 3.07 9.3 12.28 3.32 5.4 7.47 134 3.15 1,131 0.99 1.35 47.9 86.6 8.8 2.14 0.73 0.45 5.6 0.72 14.2

13.7 23.2 1.35 0.46 0.046 3.04 13.14 0.069 87 8.38 6.28 7.39 2.29 15.3 1,938 5.8 360 11.9 2.93 2.08 120 11.22 7.21 0.137 6.2 3.38 15.98 3.35 0.9 19.98 0.82 4.83 3.09 2.13 3.09 9.32 12.4 3.4 5.4 7.47 134 3.22 1,148 0.99 1.39 47.95 89 9 2.2 0.74 0.455 5.6 0.74 14.96

13.2 22.85 1.29 0.45 0.043 2.85 12.22 0.067 83.05 8.38 6.11 7.2 2.29 14.88 1,880 5.72 359.8 11.8 2.87 2.02 115.8 10.72 7.15 0.132 5.89 3.16 15.02 3.29 0.89 19.68 0.67 4.72 2.99 2.07 2.99 9.26 11.1 3.32 4.99 7.47 132.8 3.14 1,110 0.96 1.31 46.5 86.55 8.25 2.09 0.7 0.44 5.56 0.71 14.06

SERVICES 13.22 22.85 1.3 0.45 0.046 3.04 12.92 0.068 84 8.38 6.11 7.39 2.29 15.26 1,880 5.73 360 11.8 2.9 2.02 118 10.82 7.15 0.135 5.9 3.34 15.9 3.3 0.89 19.88 0.73 4.83 3.09 2.07 3.05 9.26 11.32 3.32 5.2 7.47 133.5 3.14 1,110 0.97 1.35 46.7 87 8.95 2.09 0.71 0.445 5.56 0.71 14.9

41,100 156,300 134,000 1,570,000 65,200,000 673,000 25,049,800 17,930,000 159,300 700 1,804,600 21,200 6,000 132,000 80,920 398,300 220 200 1,455,000 13,000 3,165,020 10,000 3,200 9,000,000 12,248,600 40,000 5,700 357,000 78,000 1,076,300 13,110,000 76,000 3,132,000 120,000 2,947,000 24,700 298,200 11,000 1,057,400 3,500 51,220 920,000 127,245 4,953,000 29,285,000 300,800 1,397,910 416,500 16,649,000 15,561,000 8,400,000 422,200 1,481,000 7,437,900

549,336 3,601,410 174,920 706,800 2,888,700 1,998,680 320,811,118 1,212,970 13,388,671.50 5,866 11,145,986 155,938 13,740 1,984,710 153,461,305 2,285,960 79,164 2,370 4,225,320 26,770 376,034,958 108,970 22,932 1,207,290 73,785,035 128,240 88,310 1,179,270 69,870 21,340,420 9,656,120 360,050 9,566,970 250,380 8,908,530 229,816 3,432,734 36,600 5,378,407 26,145 6,837,664 2,910,960 142,713,380 4,828,500 39,630,970 14,228,870 121,670,983.50 3,699,511 35,313,460 11,127,380 3,756,700 2,357,558 1,069,880 109,453,204

-26,480 -20,510 44,356,060 3,518,490.50 210,850 -14,880 -48,842,280 -58,400 167,821,780 -13,500 4,181,296 36,300 8,262,424 1,900,990 3,020 60,100 -29,800 5,100 113,312 -8,417,915 1,038,060 -40,500 2,688,735 40,436,328.50 -222,750 8,195,140 -676,080 1,114,800 -953,447.00 -16,873,912

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET B CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON

0.0022 1.53 3 13.44 1.39 2.19 0.305 8.14 1.67 0.31 0.129 0.133 0.0091 0.0091 1.13 2.64 1.15 0.76 1.04 0.013 0.013 0.012 3.48 4.07 14.16 23.1 0.008

0.0022 1.53 3.05 13.72 1.39 2.23 0.325 8.16 1.7 0.32 0.131 0.133 0.01 0.01 1.16 2.73 1.15 0.76 1.04 0.013 0.013 0.013 3.48 4.25 14.2 23.2 0.0085

0.0021 1.49 2.96 13.2 1.39 2.15 0.3 7.95 1.53 0.295 0.126 0.13 0.009 0.009 1.13 2.61 1.08 0.7 0.99 0.012 0.013 0.012 3.48 4.07 14.06 22.6 0.008

MINING & OIL 0.0022 47,000,000 1.51 597,000 2.96 100,000 13.72 5,700 1.39 2,000 2.17 1,173,000 0.305 640,000 8.16 1,400 1.53 26,380,000 0.3 3,150,000 0.13 3,280,000 0.133 910,000 0.0095 35,000,000 0.0097 61,000,000 1.14 573,000 2.73 4,899,000 1.12 98,000 0.7 1,523,000 1 570,000 0.012 115,400,000 0.013 5,200,000 0.013 186,500,000 3.48 1,000 4.14 1,442,000 14.1 453,000 22.6 1,290,200 0.0085 7,000,000

100,900 898,370 299,430 75,758 2,780 2,543,160 199,200 11,350 43,371,660 949,650 420,700 119,260 338,000 576,300 654,720 13,118,590 107,200 1,093,570 570,890 1,404,700 67,600 2,409,300 3,480 6,010,190 6,397,852 29,448,675 56,900

-21,000 3,000 -8,910 -770,320 30,000 -269,800.00 -3,360,000 87,000 -37,700 -816,420.00 -223,292 -3,528,975 -

ABS HLDG PDR DD PREF FPH PREF C GMA HLDG PDR LR PREF MWIDE PREF SFI PREF SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C

20.7 98 450.2 5.75 1 100 1.82 991 75.15 76.5

21.35 98 450.2 5.8 1 100 1.82 991 75.15 76.6

20.6 96.7 450.2 5.56 1 100 1.8 991 75.05 76.5

PREFERRED 20.6 73,300 96.7 1,150 450.2 100 5.75 24,800 1 100,000 100 70 1.8 704,000 991 10 75.05 27,620 76.6 39,460

1,515,840 111,400 45,020 142,781 100,000 7,000 1,268,350 9,910 2,072,972.50 3,018,713

2,135 -1,268,350 22,950

LR WARRANT

1.92

1.92

1.91

WARRANTS 1.92 143,000

273,640

-

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

4.72 2.93 1.59

4.72 2.93 1.64

4.66 2.93 1.51

4.7 2.93 1.53

1,987,860 14,650 76,545,400

-239,820 -29,121,770

FIRST METRO ETF

118.2

118.4

117.5

389,880

-

4,040

-

MS

PROPERTY 11.94 0.8 11.04 1.91 0.92 44.65 2.53 4.18 0.49 0.85 0.93 0.25 0.43 10.14 22.85 0.54 0.134 1.54 1.24 5.12

6,515,500 503,000 100 393,000 4,503,000 8,435,200 1,009,000 1,204,000 4,680,000 454,000 284,000 16,050,000 1,560,000 903,900 371,100 2,693,000 1,290,000 4,587,000 1,929,000 9,131,800

USD DMPL A1

10.1

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

10.1

SHARES

25,860,939

INDUSTRIAL

164,686,981

HOLDING FIRMS

219,524,120

PROPERTY

165,623,122

SERVICES

264,227,251

MINING & OIL

505,516,190

GRAND TOTAL

1,394,643,035

10.1

SME

424,000 5,000 48,769,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 117.5 3,300 10.1

DDS

400

VALUE 1,787.84 (UP) 1.45 2,238,612,072.845 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,427.11 (DOWN) 30.18 1,527,325,133.794 HOLDING FIRMS 7,939.78 (UP) 37.85 3,175,586,931.107 PROPERTY 4,002.94 (DOWN) 33.76 1,578.94 (UP) 10.40 1,919,828,973.27 SERVICES MINING & OIL 8,458.31 (DOWN) 34.60 2,022,480,142.24 PSEI 7,910.58 (UP) 1.69 111,286,167.874 All Shares Index 4,841.60 (UP) 18.28 11,074,067,220.46 Gainers: 97; Losers: 114; Unchanged: 39; Total: 250

DM Wenceslao increased 2018 net income by 23% to P1.9b By Jenniffer B. Austria

D.M. WENCESLAO & Associates Inc. said net income attributable to equity holders hit P1.91 billion in 2018, up 23 percent from 2017, boosted by a onetime gain from the settlement of company’s joint venture agreements worth P1.2 billion. DM Wenceslao said in a disclosure to the stock exchange net income margin reached 89 percent from 56 percent in the prior year, reflecting the momentum in each of the businesses with office and residential segments as highlights in 2018. Revenues amounted to P2.15 billion, lower from last year’s level, as the company did not sell any land in 2018. About 88 percent of the revenues were recurring income from rentals. Revenues from leasing of land rose five percent to P965.2 million while rentals of buildings and other sales related to leasing increased 77 percent and 90 percent to P762.1 million and P173.8 million, respectively. Residential unit sales jumped 153 percent to P119.4 million. “We have a clear set of strong results and compelling opportunities ahead. Profitability has consistently improved over the years, with net income increasing 26 percent annually since 2016,” said DM Wenceslao chief executive Delfin Angelo Wenceslao said. “Our holistic approach to Aseana City master plan brings together our construction and real estate development capabilities from project planning to property management. This full scope of services provides us with a diversified earnings base and substantial recurring revenue streams,” said Wenceslao. The property firm has earmarked P4 billion in capital expenditures this year to support the company’s rapid growth. The firm over the next four years is scheduled to complete approximately 380,000 square meters of leasable and saleable properties. Earlier in the year, the company delivered its third office building, Aseana Three, which added 30,000 sqm. to the company’s total leasable gross floor area.

Megaworld eyes P1.5-b sales from its Bacolod tower MEGAWORLD Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, is expected to raise P1.5 billion in revenues from the newlylaunched residential tower inside Upper East township in Bacolod City. Megaworld said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Two Regis is a 14-story residential tower that will be built at the corner of Regis and Madison Streets within the 34-hectare township in the eastern part of Bacolod City. The residential tower will offer units ranging from studio (up to 31.5 square meters); executive studio, up to 37.5 sqm; one-bedroom, up to 43.5 sqm; and two-bedroom, up to 87 sqm. “The overwhelming success of our first residential tower is a clear indication that Bacolod has embraced the convenience of both condo living and township living. The master planned township concept that we are bringing to Bacolod makes Megaworld different as a condominium developer, and we are happy to pioneer this concept in Negros,” said Megaworld Bacolod vice president for sales and marketing Rachelle Peñaflorida. Two Regis is scheduled for completion in 2023. Megaworld said a key feature of the residential tower would be the three Skygardens, with two located on the 12th level, known as the Lower Sky Suites Floor, and one at the center of the 8th level, known as the Garden Suites Floor. The penthouse floor, also known as the Upper Sky Suites Floor, will offer units in varying size options, with unparalleled views of the sunrise from the Negros Mountain Ranges and the sunset along Guimaras Strait. “We are fast-tracking the developments inside The Upper East to ensure that our future residents will be able to enjoy the mall, the parks, the hotel and the other components of the 34-hectare township once they start living in the condo. We’ve promised Bacolod with a first-class township, and we expect things to rise in the next three to five years,” Peñaflorida said.

B3

World

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Manila

Standard

TODAY

IN BRIEF Libyans mark eight years since the uprising

Japanese set experiment to treat spinal cord injuries TOKYO―A team of Japanese researchers will carry out an unprecedented trial using a kind of stem cell to try to treat debilitating spinal cord injuries, the specialists said on Monday. The team at Tokyo’s Keio University has received government approval for a trial using so-called induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells―which have the potential to develop into any cell in the body―to treat patients with serious spinal cord injuries. The trial, expected to begin later this year, will initially focus on four patients who suffered their injuries just 14 to 28 days beforehand, the university said. The team will transplant two million iPS cells into the spines of the patients, who will then go through rehabilitation and be monitored for a year. The strict limitations on the number of participants is necessary because the process is an “unprecedented, world first clinical trial”, the university added. “It’s been 20 years since I started researching cell treatment. Finally we can start a clinical trial,” Hideyuki Okano, a professor of physiology, said at a press conference. “We want to do our best to establish safety and provide the treatment to patients,” he added. The study will be carried out on patients aged 18 or older who have completely lost their motor and sensory functions. There are more than 100,000 patients in Japan who are paralyzed due to spinal cord injuries but there is no effective treatment. The primary purpose of the trial is to confirm the safety of the transplanted cells and the method of the transplant, the researchers said. The research team hopes to test the efficacy and safety of the treatment for chronic injuries as well in the future if they can confirm the safety of the technique through the clinical trial. The announcement comes after researchers in Kyoto said in November they had transplanted iPS cells into the brain of a patient in a bid to cure Parkinson’s disease. AFP

EIGHT YEARS SINCE THE UPRISING. Libyan men on a bulldozer wave the national flag as they gather to mark the eighth anniversary of the uprising in Libya’s second city of Benghazi, on February 17, 2019. Eight years after the revolt in Libya against Moamer Kadhafi’s authoritarian regime, a modern and democratic state remains a distant dream in a country that has been sliding from crisis to crisis. AFP

IS defends last pocket of ‘caliphate’ in Syria B AGHOUZ, Syria― Islamic State group jihadists were defending the last pocket of their “caliphate” in Syria on Monday, as EU foreign ministers meet to discuss the crisis after US President Donald Trump called on European nations to take back their foreign fighters.

Diehard IS jihadists are trapped in their last patch of territory of less than half a square kilometre in eastern Syria near the Iraqi border. They have prevented civilians from fleeing by blocking roads out of the village of Baghouz, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting them said on Sunday. On a rooftop on the edges of the village, an SDF fighter told AFP that the frequencies used by the jihadists to communicate had gone dead. “Now their area of control is really

squeezed and they don’t have as many walkie talkies. They’re not talking to each other as much,” he added. SDF spokesman Mustefa Bali said IS had blocked roads out of its holdout, preventing up to 2,000 civilians from escaping. “Daesh has sealed off all the streets,” he said, using the Arabic acronym for IS. Civilians who have been able to escape reported that IS militants were using women and children “as human shields,” said Sean Ryan, a spokesman for the US-led coalition. Thousands of people have streamed out of the so-called “Baghouz pocket” in recent weeks, but at a collection point for new arrivals on Sunday, dozens of tents and a few trucks sat empty. “It’s been two days since anyone came out,” an SDF fighter told AFP. On Monday, EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss the war-torn country, after appeals for a “European solution” to the hundreds of foreigners—including from Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Canada and Italy—who have been arrested by the SDF for allegedly fighting with IS.

Kurdish-led group has repeatedly called on European governments to take back their citizens, but they have been so far reluctant. The issue has taken on greater urgency, however, amid fears of a security vacuum since Trump’s shock announcement in December that US troops would withdraw. “The United States is asking Britain, France, Germany and other European allies to take back over 800 ISIS fighters that we captured in Syria and put them on trial,” Trump said in a tweet, using another acronym for IS. Otherwise, “we will be forced to release them. The US does not want to watch as these ISIS fighters permeate Europe, which is where they are expected to go.” Trump’s tweet prompted a reaction from Paris, Brussels and Berlin. In Syria, “it is the Kurds who hold them (the French jihadists) and we have every confidence in their ability to keep them detained,” French junior interior minister Laurent Nunez said. If they return, “they will all be tried, and incarcerated,” he said, after France this month opened the door to bringing back its citizens. AFP

UNDER GUARD.

Veiled women, reportedly wives and members of the Islamic Stine, walk under the supervision of a female fighter from the Syrian Democrinic Forces at al-Hol camp in al-Hasakeh governorate in northeastern Syria on February 17, 2019. AFP

Venezuela expels Europe lawmakers CARACAS―Venezuela on Sunday expelled five visiting European lawmakers, an act which opposition leader Juan Guaido branded “irrational” as his showdown with President Nicolas Maduro over the arrival of international aid intensifies. The members of the European Parliament were being tossed out with no explanation, said Spanish MEP Esteban Gonzalez Pons, who led the group. “We are being expelled from Venezuela. Our passports have been seized. They have not informed us of the reason for the expulsion,” Pons said. The incident is the latest point of tension between the international community and Maduro, who is in the grip of a power struggle with Guaido, the head of the National Assembly who proclaimed himself interim president last month. Guaido has the backing of more than 50 countries including 30 in Europe. Pons’s compatriots Jose Ignacio Salafranca and Gabriel Mato Adrover, as well as Esther de Lange of the Netherlands and Paulo Rangel of Portugal, were also expelled. All are members of the conservative European People’s Party (PPE). Writing on Twitter, Guaido said the MEPs were being “deported by an isolated and increasingly irrational regime.” Earlier Sunday Guaido set a goal of enlisting a million volunteers within a week to confront a government blockade that has kept tons of humanitarian aid, most of it from the United States, from flowing into the country where residents can’t get enough food and say they are dying because of a shortage of medicines. Guaido has given next Saturday—one month to the day after he proclaimed himself acting president—as the date for a showdown with Maduro over the aid. Food supplies, hygiene kits and nutritional supplements have been stockpiled near the Venezuelan border in Cucuta, Colombia. Additional storage centers are supposed to open this week in Brazil and Curacao, a Dutch island off Venezuela’s northern Caribbean coast. AFP Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region BRANCH 101, QUEZON CITY IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR THE CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF JONATHAN LAPING BAETIONG CASE NO. R-QZN-18-14284-SP IRENEA PIO LAPING

Petitioner. x---------------------------------------------x

ORDER

The instant petition prays for the correction of the Certificate of Live Birth of Jonathan Laping Baetiong to JONATHAN LAPING (no middle name).

Istanbul’s veterinarians make city’s stray animals feel at home ISTANBUL―Concerned for the health of a black cat roaming around the university campus where she works, Mevlude dropped off the feline at the veterinary clinic for street animals run by the Istanbul municipality. Visitors to the Turkish city, who admire its centuries-old mosques and Ottoman palaces, are often surprised to see cats and dogs making themselves at home on the streets, and watch them taking the best seats in cafes and restaurants without a care for the world. Like Mevlude, many Istanbul residents try to help these four-legged friends in their neighborhood, putting out bowls of food and offering shelter by their doors or windows. Now Istanbul officials are increasing efforts to ensure the good health of the

TRIPOLI―Thousands of Libyans took the streets Sunday to mark eight years since the uprising that ousted dictator Moamer Kadhafi, despite chronic political and security crises. Waving flags and wearing the country’s national colours of red, black and green, marchers poured into Tripoli’s Martyrs’ Square, where the late autocrat once gave speeches, to continue celebrations kicked off the day before. The day’s festivities were filled with fireworks, concerts and music blasted from loudspeakers. In Benghazi, Libya’s second largest city and the “cradle of the revolution”, celebrations were dimmer. Only a few dozen people gathered at the Benghazi court square where the first antiKadhafi demonstrations began. Once a symbol of the uprising, it now lies in ruins, bearing the scars of a war against jihadists launched in 2014. “This revolution was born in the streets and squares, carried by the youth... but some are trying to steal the dreams and desires of our people for a dignified life,” said 32-year-old Benghazi resident Mohamad al-Agouri. Libya has been mired in power struggles since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising, with militias and tribes vying for control of the country’s resources. The oil-rich country is torn between rival administrations, with the UN-backed Government of National Accord based in Tripoli and a parallel body in the east backed by strongman Khalifa Haftar and his self-styled Libyan National Army. Basic public services are wanting and continued violence and divisions are fuelling uncertainty and desperation, especially among the country’s youth. “I’m impatiently waiting to see Libya stabilise and to be able to live in peace,” pharmacist Abdelhamid al-Maghrabi told AFP. AFP

street animals, and thereby of the residents who come into contact with them. That care can be seen at the “Vetbus”, where Mevlude brought the black cat because one of its eyes had been closed for several days. The bus is a mobile clinic stationed for several days in different neighborhoods around the Turkish metropolis. “We often get in touch with the municipality when we see animals who are in need of care,” Mevlude said, once reassured over the cat’s health whose eyes were now wide open. “People generally bring the animals that they take care of... so that they are given anti-parasite” treatment, said Nihan Dincer, a veterinarian working for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. And “because people are in constant

contact with them, they are also protected”, she added. The attention given by Istanbul residents to caring for street animals partly “comes from the Islamic tradition, and part of it... comes from the structuring of the public space in the Ottoman Empire,” Mine Yildirim, a doctoral candidate at the New School for Social Research in New York, said. In Ottoman times, people moved between home, the mosque and the market. The streets were the space for the dogs, the researcher said. Then in the early 20th century there were extermination policies like in the West, and even in the 1990s city officials would put poison on the streets to kill animals, said Yildirim, coordinator of the collective “Dort Ayakli Sehir”

(Four-legged City). But an animal protection law passed in 2004 forced municipalities to take care of street animals. In Istanbul, as well as the mobile clinic, IBB maintains six health centers. The aim is to vaccinate, sterilize and take care of around 130,000 dogs and 165,000 cats who live on the streets, according to the municipality. The animals, fitted with a microchip, are then taken back to where they were found, except those which are adopted by individuals during their stay at the health centres. Due to the development of these services, the municipality has cared for 73,608 animals in 2018— that compares with only 2,470 back in 2004. AFP

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that the instant petition will be heard before this Court sitting at Room 212, Hall of Justice Building, Regional Trial Court, Branch 101, Quezon City on February 27, 2019, Wednesday at 8:30 in the morning. All persons interested may appear on the aforesaid date and time of hearing and show cause, in writing, why the petition should not be granted. Let a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation pursuant to Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1079 and further served together with a copy of the petition and its annexes to the Local Civil Registry for Quezon City, the Philippine Statistics Authority; and the Office of the Solicitor General, all at the expense of the petitioner. The Clerk of Court of the Branch is to transmit a copy of this Order to the Office of the Executive Judge for the determination, through raffle, of the newspaper as provided for under PD 1079. SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Philippines, November 8, 2018. (Sgd.) EVANGELINE C. CASTILLO-MARIGOMEN Presiding Judge Copy Furnished: [x] Irenea Pio Laping Petitioner Block 9, Lot 9 Lilac Street, Villa Magdalena III, North Caloocan City (MStandard - Feb. 13, 19 & 26, 2019)

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— The Department of Public Works and Highways has allotted P50 million this year for the construction of the Aritao-Carranglan alternate route. Engineer Perfecto Urban, acting chief of the DPWH second district here, said the fund will be used for the continuation of the road’s pavement within the province. He said an estimated 16 kilometers of the 41-km road project within the province has been concretely paved. “The 41-kilometer portion of the Aritao-Carranglan alternate route is only located in our province. The rest of the road will be done by the DPWH in Nueva Ecija,” Urban added. Once completed, the project will ease traffic for commuters plying the national highway in Sta. Fe town, he said.

Taguig fights child exploitation By Joel E. Zurbano

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AGUIG City Mayor Laarni Cayetano on Monday urged the people to help the city government’s fight against child abuse and exploitation, saying her administration will not stop until those who engage in illegal activity are held accountable. Cayetano made the appeal following the rescue of nine victims and the arrest of a couple suspected to be members of a well-organized group responsible behind the operation of cybersex den in Barangay Calzada. The suspects, whom the authorities did not identify, are now detained and have been charged for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and

Discrimination Act and RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act. Cayetano asked the public to continue reporting any incident of sexual exploitation, cybersex, drug abuse and human trafficking to the city’s hotline, 0932272-4888, which she said is active 24/7. “We are very serious about putting an end to this serious crime. There is never any room in Taguig for people who exploit minors. Rest assured that the City

of Taguig will always act right away to protect our children,” Cayetano said. The city government coordinated closely with the US Homeland Security and Investigation, the National Police and non-government organization International Justice Mission in going after the syndicate. Investigation showed that the victims, aged from five to 15 years old, were forced to perform sexual acts in front of a camera for live streaming to clients in America and Europe. The clients were asked to pay from P2,000 to P5,000 depending on the performance of the victims during the live streaming. Cayetano thanked US Homeland, the police and IJM for working with

the local government, adding the continued longstanding partnership of the city with such organizations for the past years is “truly an effective way to make headway” in the fight against online child exploitation. Since 2014, the strict monitoring of the Taguig City government in close coordination with these agencies has rescued 43 minors who are being exploited online. The rescued children have been either referred to institutions or returned with their families while undergoing psychosocial interventions. In partnership with IJM, the City of Taguig also conducts psycho-education sessions for the relatives of children who were exploited online.

Agriculture department opens Malasakit Help Desks across Calabarzon

Albuera ABC prexy survives slay attempt AN ASSOCIATION of Barangay Chairman president in Albuera, Leyte survived an ambush as he was heading to work Monday morning. Alberto Sumaljag, 60, and chairman of barangay Benolho in Albuera, sustained a gunshot wound on his shoulder. He told authorities that an unidentified gunman waylaid him while he was traversing the road on his way to attend the weekly meeting at their municipal hall. The incident happened around 8:20 a.m. at the vicinity of Brgy. Cambalading of Albuera, the police report said. Sumaljag said the gunman, who wore a bonnet and was on board a gray-colored sedan, fired at him using an armalite rifle. The Albuera Municipal Police Station is investigating the ambush. Ronald O. Reyes

By Jessica M. Bacud TUGUEGARAO CITY—Cagayan Gov. Manuel N. Mamba recently spearheaded the distribution of financial assistance under the “No Town, No Barangay Left Behind Program 2018 Fund” in Ballesteros town. Mamba vowed there will be no municipality or barangay left behind in Cagayan in terms of development and progress. “This program will ensure that every corner of Cagayan gets a fair share of assistance from the Provincial Government to propel its own advancement and growth,” he said. The organization of puroks (district or zone) in the different barangays is also part of this program. “The goal is self-reliance of the communities and the active participation of the people in decision-making of the local government,” Mamba added. As part of the Recovery and Rehabilitation Program of the provincial government to the victims of Super Typhoon “Ompong” every barangay was given garden tools—two pikes, two rakes, two spading forks, 14 hand shovel, and vegetable seeds. Each of the 19 barangays in Ballesteros received P500,000 while the Barangay Nutrition Service, Barangay Health Workers, Day Care Workers and Barangay Tanod received their honoraria. Earlier, 20 barangays in Abulug town, 30 barangays in Lasam town, and other municipalities received the same share under the NBLP 2018 fund. Mamba said he made sure that all the 29 towns, 820 Barangays and 5,740 puroks of the province will receive P5 million through the 2018 NTLB fund, including the P500,000 to each barangay and the garden tools.

Tuao Mayor Francisco Mamba Jr. (center) with Vice Mayor William Mamba (right) receives the 5-million check from Cagayan Gov. Manuel N. Mamba (left) under the ‘No Town Left Behind’ (NTLB) program of the provincial government at the Atty. Leonardo N. Gymnasium in Tuao. The town’s 19 barangays each received P500,000, a set of garden tools, and vegetable seeds for a community livelihood program (inset). Jessica M. Bacud

DPWH sets P50m for 16km AritaoCarranglan route

Cagayan villages get P500k each via NTLB fund

Department of Agriculture-Calabarzon Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa (second from left, front row) stands with other DA officials in holding up a banner to mark the opening of their Malasakit Help Desk. Roy Tomandao

‘Peas’ singer gives back to home province ALLAN Pineda Lindo, better known as Apl.de.ap, a founding member of the international Grammy award-winning group, The Black Eyed Peas, is delivering on a promise he made almost three-and-ahalf years ago. In October of 2015, the Apl.de.ap Foundation International began its first healthcare program called “Campaign for Filipino Children,” to address retinopathy of prematurity, a cause of childhood blindness among premature newborn babies in the Philippines. On Feb. 19, Apl.de.ap and his Foundation will install a second retinal imaging camera system at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga, his home province. When asked what delivering this medical equip-

ment to his home province meant, Apl.de.ap said: “I’m really proud to donate this in my hometown of Pampanga. As a kid who grew up with visual impairment, I know firsthand what it is to navigate this region without being able to see. I’m glad I can make a small impact to changing this, but there’s still a long way to go.” The first outcome of the initiative was to purchase a retinal imaging camera system to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of ROP. With the collaboration of the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology, it was successfully delivered and installed at the Southern Philippines Medical Center, a public hospital in Davao City, Davao del Sur, serving the people of Mindanao.

THE Department of Agriculture Region IV-Calabarzon office has opened its first Malasakit Help Desk at the ground floor of the RMIC Bldg. In Diliman, Quezon City. This was in conjunction with the launching of the Malasakit Help Desk at the DA Central Office led by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol. Every day, a person will be assigned to the help desk to entertain and answer questions on DA’s services, such as access to agri-fishery information and data, including those involving registration and accreditation, and agri-profiling and validation; access to credit facilities; crop insurance; scholarships; trainings and seminars; and employment. Other Malasakit Help Desks will also be opened in the field offices of the DA Calabarzon soon, Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa said. The establishment of the Malasakit Help Desk is in line with the DA’s mandate to promote agricultural development and inclusive growth. It is also supportive of the commitment of President Rodrigo Duterte to hasten the delivery of assistance to the farming and fishing communities and his aspirations for a “Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Buhay.” Roy Tomandao

SPECIAL GUEST.

Senator Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao visits Strike Gynasium of Bacoor, Cavite to watch the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League game between the Bacoor City Strikers team led by team owner and Bacoor, Cavite Rep. Strike Revilla (with daughter Chayeli) against the Batangas City Athletics on Sunday night. Lino Santos

Life Flying

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

@MStandardLIFE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019

with a mother’s instinct

I

N NOVEMBER last year, flight attendant Patrisha Organo was on the news after she came to a passenger’s rescue by offering to breastfeed the latter’s baby inflight. She said she didn’t have any second thoughts about doing it when she heard the baby crying after their Philippine Airlines domestic flight took off on Nov. 6. “Soon after takeoff, narinig namin yung iyak ng bata. Makikita mo talaga na pagod na siya sa kakaiyak. Bilang nanay din ako, alam ko ang iyak ng bata kapag inaantok siya o nagugutom (we all heard the baby crying. Anyone could see that the child was already tired from crying. As a mom, I know when a baby cries out of sleepiness or hunger),” Organo said in an interview with World Vision. When the child’s mother confirmed that she ran out of infant formula, Organo first considered expressing her breast milk, but she knew that it would take some time. So with the permission of PAL’s line administrator and the

child’s mother, Organo breastfed the infant at the plane’s galley. Organo recalled the child instantly gave signals of latching as soon as the child sat on her lap. “I saw the mother’s relief when the baby stopped crying and fell asleep.” The PAL stewardess admitted it was not the first time she wet-nursed a child. “I also once wet-nursed the kid of my neighbor,” she shared. Wet-nursing is when a child breastfeeds from another woman when their mother does not have the capacity to do so. The World Health Organization and the Department of Health recommend wet-nursing when breastfeeding and

Organo breastfeeding a baby on a Philippine Airlines domestic flight when the latter’s mother ran out of infant formula while on the plane.

World Vision conducts breastfeeding rights forum at UP Diliman. The organization and the Department of Health implement the Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines project. (Photo from World Vision)

The MBFP project aims to strengthen the implementation of breastfeeding laws in the country.

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A MOTHER FIRST.

Flight attendant Patrisha Organo makes sure she takes care of her daughter by providing her breast milk even after her maternity leave. (Photo from Patrisha Organo/Facebook)

breast milk expression are not possible. A mother’s breastfeeding experience can be made a lot easier with a conducive environment and supportive people around her. Organo said she never had second thoughts of breastfeeding her child prior to giving birth. Her husband’s encouragement also gave her the confidence to breastfeed her daughter even when she doubted her ability to produce enough breast milk. During the flight when she breastfed the baby, Organo shared that the support of her colleagues made it possible. “There were only two female extra crew members during that flight but I never felt ashamed. Usually after inflight service and I feel na kailangan ko nang mag-pump, I’ll ask permission para makapag pump ako sa private area ng plane. And they’d tell me, ‘sige ma’am go ka’ lang (Usually after inflight service, I’d just ask permission if I can express milk for a while, and they’d tell me to go ahead).” Despite the demanding nature of a flight attendant’s job, her work environment still made it possible for her to breastfeed her daughter even after maternity leave. “Leaving my child after months of being together was so hard. There was guilt because I have to leave my daughter, but I see to it that I express breast milk for her and bring it home every single day. So, it is a big deal for moms like me that my workplace actually supports my decision to continue breastfeeding,” shared Organo. She also shared that the airline has already set up a lactation station in one of its offices to support breastfeeding ground employees. As mandated by Republic Act 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, all public and private institutions shall give all breastfeeding employees not less than 40 minutes to breastfeed or to express breast milk and allot a breastfeeding station where they can privately do so. In the case of Philippine Airlines, all breastfeeding employees are allowed to express their breast milk every two hours or when the employee feels the need to express. During flights, breastfeeding crew members are allowed to express their breast milk after inflight services. As World Vision and DOH implement the Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines (MBFP) project that aims to strengthen the implementation of breastfeeding laws, Organo’s story proves that breastfeeding in the workplace is possible and doable. Go to mbfp.doh.gov.ph for more information on the Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines project.

Anne Curtis is flanked by Mike Austria, brand manager of Enervon and Dr. Rudy Pagcatipunan, medical director of UNILAB Consumer Health.

A ball of energy

named Anne Curtis

IF ANNE Curtis is a juggler, she’s definitely juggling many balls. She’s an actress, a noontime show host, an endorser, a celebrity ambassador (for several brands and organizations), a makeup entrepreneur. And when she’s not doing all that, Anne can be seen training for a marathon or working out with her fitness trainer. She also attends to her passion project dubbed Dream Machine, a platform that aims to be a voice against dream shaming and be an enabler to make dreams come true. “Dream Machine was born out of a desire to be a blessing to others. I’ve been so blessed and I keep thinking to myself, ‘How can I give back?’ This is something that I see myself doing for as long as I can,” shares Anne. “I will continue to help because there is always joy in giving, there’s a different satisfaction seeing someone fulfill his or her dreams and you played a part in it.” The list of things that Anne does continues as she is also a daughter, a sister, a wife to her equally talented husband Erwan Heussaff—all of which entail different bonding moments and adventures. She is also an animal lover as Mogwai, Pixie Grizzly, Princess and Tofu can attest to that.

With so many roles Anne plays in and out of show business, it’s only natural that she becomes exhausted. But she shares how she manages to have extra energy. “I used to be a non-believer of vitamins until I started taking Enervon. It really helps because now I no longer get tired easily, and I don’t get sick as often as before,” she shares. Enervon helps in replenishing nutrients in the body like vitamin C and B-complex. Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant that can strengthen the body’s natural defenses and protect the cells from harmful molecules called free radicals. B-complex, on the other hand, helps break down the food a person eats so their body can convert it into usable energy for daily functions. “I learned that taking multivitamins everyday helps the body restore depleted nutrients that we cannot get from food alone,” Anne offers. Another discovery for Anne is that multivitamins do not make an individual hyperactive. “When we expend energy that is when we begin to grow tired or fatigued, making us vulnerable to diseases. That is where multivitamins come into play as it gives the extra energy we need and boosts the immune system that prevents us from getting sick,” she shares.

Life

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Pharma firm’s quest to provide cancer care C

ANCER remains one of the world’s most urgent medical issues, what with its massive impact on society and lives of individuals. The recent celebration of World Cancer Day on Feb. 4 intended to drive future change by raising awareness and action to help save millions from the disease. In the Philippines, the national government through the Department of Health manages a countrywide cancer prevention and control program. Among other significant undertakings of the DOH, with the support of private sector organizations, is the annual commemoration of Cervical Cancer Consciousness Month that enjoins women to get screened at once and get themselves protected through immunization against human papillomavirus. Modern medicine has advanced to such a degree that cancer is now being addressed across the continuum of care which includes prevention, as well as timely treatment. Pharmacological solutions are helping address the health and economic burdens of the disease.

Pharmaceutical company MSD continues to be at the forefront of research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and communities around the world—including cancer. In the area of oncology, MSD is inventing new ways to treat cancer and transform the paradigm of cancer care with more than 450 studies and clinical trials underway. Since its first oncology product was approved in 1986 by the US Food and Drug Administration, more new and innovative medicines have come out of the company that manage and control cancer and cancer-related conditions. To fight for the vision of an HPV-free future, the company developed the firstever vaccine to help prevent cervical,

vaginal, vulvar, and anal cancers. The HPV quadrivalent and the nonavalent vaccines available today protect against HPV strains that cause diseases linked with HPV, including genital warts. Meanwhile, in the critical area of therapeutic medicine, MSD contribution comes in the form of immunotherapy. This immunologic treatment unleashes the body’s defense system to recognize and combat tumor cells. More and more case studies of patients responsive to immunotherapy are demonstrating how the therapy improves patient prognosis and quality of life. Pharmaceutical company MSD invents new ways to treat cancer and transform the paradigm of cancer care with more than 450 studies and clinical trials currently in progress.

Mobile app makes self-care more convenient

From left: Axa Philippines segment director of retail proposition Grace Mallabo, I Bounce for Health challenge winner Chrenz Garin, and brand and digital marketing director Alma Gruenber

Fitness

in full color

LEADING insurance company Axa demonstrated its commitment to promoting the importance of health and wellness among families and young people by joining the fun-filled Color Manila Run held recently at the SM Mall of Asia grounds. The company’s top executives and senior leaders joined in on the fun. Color Manila, the biggest color fun run in the country, brought almost 13,000 runners to safari-themed 200-meter, 3K, 5K, 10K, and 21K routes. “Our participation in an event such as the Color Manila Run is a fun way to Axa Philippines I Bounce for Health underline the importance of health and Challenge at Color Manila fitness,” said Axa Philippines president With comprehensive products such as and chief executive officer Rahul Hora. Global Health Access and Health Max, “And Axa has the superior products all designed to protect people’s finances people need for total health protection.” in times of medical emergencies, Axa’s participation in the Color Manila Run underscores its commitment to provide Rovilson the best health coverage in the market, Fernandez giving people peace of mind so they can focus on living the life they choose. The insurer also staged the “I Bounce for Health” trampoline challenge as a fun way for people to start their health journey in 2019. Participants were asked to jump on a trampoline and post on social media how they planned to jumpstart their health journey to win a free Axa personal accident insurance card worth P50,000 in insurance coverage for a year. The participant with the most number of jumps took home a wearable fitness gadget. The challenge was also part of the company’s thrust to promote health and fitness and to be a partner for health of families and young people.

A NEW mobile app promises to help individuals take better care of themselves. My White Card mobile app offers deals from a well-curated selection of beauty, health, and wellness services in Metro Manila—enabling everyone to reach “self-care goals” at great prices. “Wellness cannot be achieved in only a few, seldom visits. Maintenance and religious monitoring are essential for one to achieve health and wellness goals,” said My White Card chief executive officer Anne Ricardo. She continued, “We realize, however, that some people are put off by the cost and inconvenience of setting regular appointments and visiting health and wellness specialists. To bridge the gap between maintaining a lifestyle of selfcare and staying within a budget, we launched My White Card which of ofmem fers enormous savings for members at the convenience of their smartphones.” Launched earlier this year, My White Card was conceptualized by Cor Santé Primera Corporation to address the need of Filipinos to achieve and sustain holistic health within their lifestyle and means. Through its partnership with top health and wellness centers, en My White Card allows members to enjoy exclusive deals from clinics headed by highly recommended doctors and specialists. My White Card has three membership tiers to suit the varying needs of health-conscious Filipinos. For those who recognize the impor-

My White Card allows members to enjoy exclusive deals from beauty, health, and wellness services in Metro Manila.

tance of maintenance and upkeep in matters pertaining to their health and wellness, the Elite membership (P7,999/year) provides access to discounts of as much as 10 percent on products and services from partner clinics.

Meanwhile, for those who demand a wider array of services to sustain a holistic lifestyle, the Premium member membership (P11,899/year) is recommended, as it provides superior access to as much as 25 percent discount on products and services. For those who value exclusivity and pampering as well as the highest level of discounts, the Luxury tier member-

ship (P25,000/year) provides access to the highest value offers with up to as much as 50 percent discount on products and services, along with propro mos and discounts. “We can’t stress enough the importance of maintemainte nance in ensuring one’s wellness and health. With My White Card, we hope that more Filipinos will be on the road to better health and wellwell ness,” said Ricardo. My White Card’s partner clinics are located at Centuria Medical in Makati City. The list includes Asian Stem Cell Institute, White House, New Life Centuria, Asia Square Center, Skin Touch, Molecular Immunology, Alpha Chiropractics, Pinnacle Performance, Prive, Auris, Core, etc. More clinics across Metro Manila will soon be added to its network. The mobile app is available at App Store and Play Store. Go to www.mywhitecard.ph for more information.

My White Card chief executive officer Anne Ricardo (center) with the White Card mobile app team.

Entertainment

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Rocco leads cast of TBA’s latest offering

'Batang Maestro' is a docu about volunteer ‘little teachers’ who cross the river of Donsol on board a bamboo raft and walk their way to a village on a mountain just to reach children who often miss their classes.

GMA Network leads PH contingent in 2019 New York Festivals anew

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MA Network once again gives the Philippines the most number of finalists at the 2019 New York Festivals “World’s Best TV and Films” Competition, earning five out of the country’s eight short-listed entries. Top-rating and award-winning magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS), hosted by Jessica Soho, was nominated for its “Salay” feature in the Community Portraits category. The segment showed how students and teachers from Caraga, Davao Oriental risk their lives as they cross the river using an improvised cable car made from rattan called ‘salay’ just to go to school and buy basic needs. Meanwhile, the country’s longest-running documentary program, I-Witness, earned two nominations this year: one for Sandra Aguinaldo’s “War Zone ER” documentary, and another for Kara David’s “Bilanggo ng Isipan”.

Short-listed in the Current Affairs category, “War Zone ER”, told the stories of those tasked to save the lives of the wounded during the Marawi siege—not in a hospital but inside a makeshift emergency room in Marawi’s battle zone. “Bilanggo ng Isipan”, on the other hand, received a nomination in the Health/Medical Information category. The documentary presented the current state of mental health in the Philippines with three case studies, who for a number of years have been bound by chains by their own families because of their mental condition. Giving the country another slot in the NYF “World’s Best TV and Films”

Competition is The Atom Araullo Specials episode “No Leftovers”, which was nominated in the Social Issues category. In this documentary, Atom Araullo showed that food wastage remains a big problem in the Philippines, tracing how food is wasted from production to consumption. Completing the list of Kapuso finalists this year is GMA News TV’s Reel Time with its “Batang Maestro” documentary getting short-listed in the Heroes category. It featured the story of 12-year-old Dagul and his fellow volunteer ‘little teachers’ in the province of Sorsogon. They cross the long river of Donsol on board a bamboo raft and walk their way to a village on a mountain just to reach children who often miss their classes because they live so far from school. GMA Network remains the most awarded Philippine organization at the New York Festivals “World’s Best TV and Films” Competition.

THE fact that he has a new movie at the start of 2019 excites Rocco Nacino that much. He is part of TBA Studios’ Write about Love. In an interview, he said he’s glad to be one of the main cast members of the movie, where he is paired with Miles Ocampo. “It’s nice that this project came along. It’s just timely and definitely a good starter for the year. In the story, I play the role of an introvert writer,” he said. “Actually, even during the audition stage, we were already enthusiastic discussing on what we’d do with our respective characters if ever. We were both nervous as well while doing the audition. It’s just nice to know that both of us landed the parts,” he said of his paring with Miles. Interestingly, apart from Miles, the movie also casts Yeng Constantino and Joem Bascon. And Rocco considers it a fresh experience working with the Kapamilya stars. “It’s fun, like as if I’m in a new environment. It feels good that you get to know other people from the industry through them. Actually, I consider it a challenge to myself—how to blend in with the team. So far, we’re all good,” he affirmed. His role also poses a lot of challenge to his acting skills. “It’s hard when you’re doing the process already. I hardly talk on the set to always be in character. But despite that, I’m happy doing the role,” stated Rocco. *** Many got surprised when Matteo Guidicelli recently left Star Magic and signed up with Viva Artists Agency. “I’m excited with the good plans they have for me. I can’t wait to start on my maiden project for them!” he said. Many ask if his girlfriend S a r a h Geronimo has something to do with his decision

SM Cinema kicks off Captain Marvel campaign ON FEB. 14, SM Cinema launched the Captain Marvel Fan Experience at the SM City North Edsa—The Block Atrium. Marvel fans got a chance to crash-land to the world of Captain Marvel in an interactive exhibit to celebrate the movie’s coming in the Philippines.SM Cinema put together exciting activities for mall-goers and fans alike. Walk through the asymmetrical entrance arches of the exhibit, featuring largerthan-life displays of Carol Danvers, her famous jetfighter, and her trusty sidekick Goose the cat. A few steps in and fans will be pumped up to see an incredible array of toy displays from Hot Toys and Filbar’s that will ignite the Captain Marvel fan in everyone. Highlighted in the exhibit is Captain Marvel’s personal gallery and the 180-degree photobooth where everyone got to show the Captain Marvel in them. At the heart of SM Cinema’s exhibit is Captain Marvel’s famous emblem, which fired up everyone’s anticipation for Marvel Studios’ latest superhero origin film. Finally, cap off the Captain Marvel Fan Experience by taking home premium memorabilia from Toy Kingdom and The SM Store. Fans also got to prepare for complete take off with Captain Marvel as SM Cinema brought the Captain Marvel experience straight from

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, February 19, 2019

ACROSS 1 Appalachian Trail follower 6 “The Forbidden City” 11 Throw slowly 14 Word of parting 15 Diving duck 16 Pointed tool 17 Blows the whistle 18 Hall 20 “My gal” of song 21 Stalemated 23 Gray-green shrubs 24 Jackhammer 26 Snubs 28 Parthenon site 30 In accord (2 wds.) 31 Has to have 32 Customs target 35 — excellence 36 Hazard a guess 37 Close kin 39 Sacred hymn writer 42 Shade-loving plant 44 Regions 45 Warm up 46 Braid 49 Pinafore 50 Unfamiliar 51 Loses bright-

ness 52 — chi ch’uan 55 Recognized as different 58 Throws off heat 60 Cat’s quarry 61 Waken 62 Permission to be absent 63 Mag execs 64 Goes down, on Wall Street 65 Erroneous DOWN 1 Caps or lids 2 Brain wave 3 Plovers 4 Lamprey 5 Country folk 6 Flat 7 Sped off 8 Circulars 9 Clique 10 Getting up 11 Chortle 12 Young screecher 13 Smile upon 19 Lox partner 22 Percent ending 25 Whodunit herring 26 Dwarf 27 Theater section 28 Stat for Greenspan

29 Swing a scythe 30 Wrong 32 Hard sell, maybe 33 Necessary 34 Musical meter maid 36 All, in combos 38 Belfry dweller 40 Montezuma, for one 41 Borrowed cars 42 Reflexive pronoun 43 Cry of discovery

45 Engine stat 46 San Diego pro 47 Epic of Troy 48 Main points 49 Candy stripers 51 Furniture buy 53 Off-road getabouts 54 Aha! (2 wds.) 56 King, in France 57 She has a habit 59 Drop — — line

Singapore. The Captain Marvel Fan Event was broadcasted to mall-goers via livestream to jumpstart SM Cinema’s campaign. Filipino fans got to take part in the fan event’s blow-by-blow coverage from SM Cinema with radio and TV personality Joyce Pring using the hashtag #CaptainMarvelAtSMCinema. Gracing the jampacked Captain Marvel Fan Event in Singapore were Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Gemma Chan, and directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. The festivities are not yet over. Get the full Captain Marvel Fan Experience when SM Cinema’s interactive exhibit goes around Metro Manila on these dates: Feb. 14 to 27 at SM City North Edsa, March 1 to 10 at SM City Southmall, and March 12 to 27 at SM City San Lazaro. Catch Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel beginning March 6 at SM Cinema, SM Cinema IMAX, and Director’s Club Cinema branches nationwide. Skip the lines and get the best seats in the house by getting your tickets via www. smcinema.com or the SM Cinema App. Captain Marvel cosplayers visit SM Cinema during the launch of the Captain Marvel Experience.

considering that she’s been a loyal Viva talent in the last 16 years. “Well, before 2018 ended, we’ve had several meetings with Star Magic. I also talked to Sarah to analyze each angle. Finally, we felt like it’s high time that we’ll be in one boat together for our future. We thought it’s the best decision to make specially that we’re growing and getting older together. That’s the huge factor there,” he confessed. “Then, when I talked to Mr. Vic del Rosario, I instantly liked his plans for my career. That helped a lot for me to get convinced further. Sarah and I are happy with our mutual decision to be together in just one talent management. It’s something that we carefully thought of. We believe that this is the best place for us,” he added. Matteo wants to clear though that there’s no bad blood between him and Star Magic. “I’ll always be forever grateful to my original mother studio. Eight years is eight years. No matter what happens, the fact remains that I started my career with them. They were the ones who gave me the opportunity to get known by the public through my exposure to their various soap operas and other shows.” Now that they’re together in Viva, many are toying with the idea of pairing them in a silver screen project. “Hopefully, if there are nice opportunities and blessings that will come along, Sarah and I are not closing our doors. Why not, right? Being with her in one movie is such a great idea.” How about a concert together? “Well, that’s another nice idea. We’ll see with the management. But hopefully, if anything good comes along and we both like it, then go!” ended Matteo. Actor Rocco Nacino is an introvert writer in an upcoming film.

Wanderland... From C4

Autotelic This indie-alternative rock band was formed in 2012 with members Josh Villena on guitars and vocals, Kai Honasan on keyboards and vocals, Neil Tin on guitars, EJ Edralin on the synth, Timothy Vargas on bass guitars, and Gep Macadaeg on drums. In 2017, they won Best Performance by a New Group Recording Artist at the 30th Awit Awards and went on to collaborate with Sugarfree’s Ebe Dancel for the song “Bahagi.” Dayaw Playing a fusion of worldbeat, jazz and rock music, Dayaw is made up of 11 members that came from different music groups around the world. Sensi Oñate is on vocals while Luis Aganinta and Aying Sayson are on guitars. Royce Barona, Kaloy Aganinta, Ryan Barros and Al Raja Oñate all play percussion. Dale Adeva is on the synthesizers, Iwag Maninantan is on the flute, BJ Malibunas flicks the bass and Gav Sabalburo pounds the drums. Music is a foremost Filipino passion and Globe has made headway in giving its customers both online and offline music experiences through Spotify, YouTube, and concerts by the best local and international acts. This March, Wanderers are sure to have a unique experience of only the best of music and bring home unforgettable memories with their friends and family. To make Wanderland a magical experience for everyone, be sure to observe proper festival etiquette. Smoke in designated areas only, throw and segregate your trash properly, don’t bring any illegal drugs or pills, and keep track of the performance schedules. Stay updated on the different ticket promos by visiting globe. com.ph/go/events/globewanderland or followingGlobe on Facebook and Twitter.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Gina Lopez’s ‘G Diaries’ goes global

G

INA Lopez was both ecstatic and emotional when she graced a momentous event on Friday.

American actor and filmmaker Al Pacino

Al Pacino stars in Nazi hunter series ACTOR Al Pacino is to star in a new series called The Hunt about Nazi hunters in the 1970s, Amazon Prime said Friday. It is only the second time the 78-year-old, who is soon to appear in Martin Scorsese’s new film The Irishman alongside Robert De Niro, has signed up for the small screen. He will play Meyer Offerman, “a powerful and mysterious man who leads a selfdefense group” in New York and discovers that hundreds of Nazis are plotting a new “Fourth Reich” in the US. The streaming giant said the story, produced by Jordan Peele of Get Out fame, is based on real events. Amazon also said it was making a screen version of Naomi Alderman’s bestseller The Power in which women develop the ability to give people electric shocks from their fingers, which allows them to become the dominate sex. AFP

When she arrived at the executive dining restaurant of ABS-CBN Corporation located on the 14th floor of the ELJ Communications Center, she immediately greeted everyone and asked for everyone’s name on the press table. “I’m going to remember you,” she told a member of the press who was wittingly introduced to her as an editor who is also good at singing. She then graciously asked to have a group photo with the scribes together with Jude Turcuato, FOX International Channel senior vice president at general manager. “As you know, I was a cabinet minister

NICKIE WANG for 10 months and my increasingly profound realization and conviction after 10 months in the government…it’s not the money that makes the difference,” she said at the beginning of the program where her award-winning travel show G Diaries was announced to be going global with a partnership with the National Geographic Society (NAT GEO) for its third season. “You know what makes the difference? It’s the heart. It’s when you really care. You can have little money but if you connect with people and the ideas that come would be good

Lopez's 'G Diaries' and Nat Geo, represented by Jude Turcuato, forge partnership to showcase the communities of I LOVE Foundation.

Gina Lopez is back on TV for the third season of her multi-awarded show, 'G Diaries.'

and you create an environment with love, you bring much more than the money can,” she added. Lopez’s I LOVE (Investments in Loving Organizations or Village Economies) Foundation, which she founded in 2017, will be the main highlight of her show’s third season. The new season of G Diaries will feature the eight communities that won last year’s “Quest for Love” and will be getting technical and financial support for their proposed business and livelihood projects. “What we want to do in the program is create a model. We want to show that when the people care, when there’s someone who stands for integrity and love, you end up making more money, there will be peace and order, there will be good health,” Lopez said. In fulfilling its dream of “Creating a Planet in Balance,” NAT GEO—known as a world leader in geography, cartography and exploration—has agreed to take part in transforming marginalized communities into successful and sustainable agro— forestry, fisheries and ecotourism sites, by showcasing the beautiful I LOVE sites through their identified media platforms and digital assets. These “I LOVE” sites, are located in Tublay, Benguet; Bulusan, Sorsogon; Sta Cruz Island, Zamboanga; Polomolok, South Cotabato; Lake Sebu, South Cotabato; Simunul Island and Bongao, Tawi Tawi; Upi, Maguindanao; and Maramag, Bukidnon.

Lopez with Nat Geo executives and the partners and volunteers of I LOVE Foundation

GET ready to witness the magic of the country’s premiere music and arts festival as Globe and Karpos Multimedia brings yet again one of the best musical extravaganzas with both international and local flavors—Wanderland Music and Arts Festival. To celebrate its seventh year, Wanderland is going to be even bigger, now growing into a two-day activity full of good music, creative people and eyepopping artistic creations. This year’s fest features a magic-centric theme, with 14 foreign artists and homegrown local eight music icons who will take the stage at the Filinvest City Event Grounds in Alabang, Muntinlupa City on March 9 to 10. Get hyped for this year’s festival with this amazing lineup of artists: Two Door Cinema Club With genres ranging from indie rock and pop to dance punk and post-punk revival, TDCC hit the charts with its songs “Undercover Martyn” and “Are We Ready”. Its tracks “What You Know” and “You’re Not Stubborn” were featured in hit series Vampire Diaries and Grey’s Anatomy, respectively.

The Kooks Formed in 2004, this English indie rock band

During event, Lopez and Turcuato held a memorandum of agreement signing to formalize the partnership, where NAT GEO will be creating and showing communication materials on the featured communities in G Diaries to its global audience. Turcuato shared that NAT GEO and Lopez’s I LOVE Foundation are same in looking for change agents in the world and he believes by showing the stories of the eight communities they can prove that change is possible. “Because our mandate is to really inspire people to care about the planet globally, we are now going tell the story (of the communities in G Diaries) to not only the Philippines but we’re going do our best to tell the story elsewhere so that people can see the model, especially if it works, and the whole world can know the great things that are happening in the Philippines,” Turcuato said. Lopez founded to bring together private institutions, local government units, government agencies and ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya’s Bantay Kalikasan to address the reality that although the Philippines boasts of a 6.7 percent GDP growth and is seen to be one of the top 3 fastest growing economies in Asia, the robust growth has not trickled down to the remotest areas of the country—the fishermen, farmers, indigenous people and people in conflict areas. Among I LOVE’s partners are People Design Places (PDP) Architects, ESCA Inc. and, Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (IIEE). G Diaries, which first aired in 2017, has been supporting I LOVE’s advocacy of uplifting the lives of the marginalized community through sharing the inspiring stories of communities in the program. Last year, the show won Best Travel Show at the 32nd PMPC Star Awards and Most Development-Oriented Environment Program at the UP Gandingan Awards 2018. Watch G Diaries Season 3 on ABSCBN every Sunday starting March 3 at 10:00 a.m. It will also air on cable TV on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel, and the METRO Channel. For more information and to support the I LOVE communities, visithttps://www. passitforward.com/u/ngo/1676#/stories.

Wanderland music fest headliners unveiled has already released five albums with tracks including “Always Where I Need to Be”, “Naive”, and “She Moves in Her Own Way.” Interestingly enough, it was also featured in a Forbes article as “the most popular band you don’t know.’’ Honne Consisting of James Hatcher and Andy Clutterbuck, the duo writes, records, and produces their own music and released their first two EPs in 2014 entitled, Warm on a Cold Night and All in the Value. Masego To give the audience a taste of jazz, house, contemporary R&B and funk fusion, Wanderland is bringing Masego to serenade the crowd with his hits “Navajo” and “Tadow”. The African-American musician who was born in Jamaica calls his music style as “TrapHouseJazz” or Emotion.

JMSN, SG Lewis, and Mac Ayres #GlobeWanderland will also bring in American musician JMSN (pronounced Jameson) who sang “Talking is Cheap,” British electronic artist SG Lewis who created dance music such as “Warm” and “Better”, and American R&B/ Soul artist Mac Ayres who is known for his hits, “Easy” and “Stay”. Alina Baraz, Gabrielle Aplin, and Clairo This trio is set to bring girl power to the festival this year. American R&B singer Alina Baraz will perform her hits including “Fantasy” and “Buzzin.” British indie folk artist Gabrielle Aplin will serenade the crowd with songs like “The Power of Love” and “Home,” while American electro pop artist Clairo will get festival goers jumping with “Pretty Girl” and “Diary 001.” joan and PREP Completing the wave 3 announcement of the lineup are joan and PREP. Rising indie pop duo from Arkansas, joan is set to create a name for themselves in the pop scene with their songs, “Take Me On” and “Love Somebody Like You.” Meanwhile UK R&B quartet PREP will be performing songs from their latest EP Cold Fire, such as “Don’t Bring Me Down” and “Rachel”. Charlie Lim and Adoy Asian artists Charlie Lim and Adoy will also rock Wanderland with their unique music style. Singaporean singer-songwriter Charlie Lim shot to fame with his songs “Light Breaks In” and “Blah Blah Blues” while Korean Indie band Adoy will play its hits from its albums Catnip and Love. Sandwich Filipino music will never be left behind in #GlobeWanderland. Leading the list of local artists to rock the stage this year is Sandwich. This multi-awarded alternative rock band has been in the Filipino music scene since Raimund Marasigan and Diego Castillo formed the band in 1998. Their songs include “Super

Noypi” and “Humanda Ka”. UNIQUE The former lead singer of IV of Spades will also join in the fun as he performs his debut single, “Midnight Sky” and songs from his first solo studio album, Grandma. His music can be described as ballads influenced by progressive psychedelic rock.

Reese Lansangan Known for her cute and quirky music and unique tone, the multi-talented Reese Lansangan will serenade Wanderers with her songs “Home” and “For the Fickle.” The singer, songwriter, graphic designer, visual artist and published author honed her talents under the tutelage of National Artist Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, Joel Ayala and Noel Cabangon during her time at the Elements National Music Camp, now also under Globe. Clara Benin She will bring indie pop, folk and acoustic music to the Wanderland crowd, performing her hits from her solely produced and written EP such as “Riverchild” and from her independently released album Human Eyes. Continued on C3